National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Pyrene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) released as a pollutant from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 7 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 21 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 1,675,884 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Pyrene:
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Cancer
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
Pyrene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 7 states have reported detecting Pyrene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Pyrene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| New Jersey | 4 | 1,180,517 |
| Delaware | 2 | 237,130 |
| Rhode Island | 6 | 189,277 |
| California | 3 | 59,325 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 8,801 |
| Texas | 1 | 525 |
| Iowa | 2 | 309 |
| Total | 21 | 1,675,884 |
The Most Polluted Communities
21 water utilities reported detecting Pyrene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Pyrene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plover Water Supply Storm Lake, IA | 95 | 1 of 1 | 0.4 ppb (0.4 ppb) |
| 2 | NJ American Water Company Shorthills, NJ | 217,230 | 1 of 1 | 0.33 ppb (0.33 ppb) |
| 3 | Hampton Waterworks Hampton, AR | 1,770 | 4 of 5 | 0.21 ppb (0 to 0.55 ppb) |
| 4 | Lost Hills Utility District Lost Hills, CA | 2,772 | 1 of 2 | 0.11 ppb (0 to 0.21 ppb) |
| 5 | Palmer Water Supply Palmer, IA | 214 | 1 of 2 | 0.1 ppb (0 to 0.2 ppb) |
| 6 | New Jersey American - Elizabethtown Plainfield, NJ | 609,387 | 1 of 1 | 0.08 ppb (0.08 ppb) |
| 7 | Harrisburg Waterworks Harrisburg, AR | 2,192 | 1 of 3 | 0.07 ppb (0 to 0.22 ppb) |
| 8 | West Houston Mobile Home Comm Houston, TX | 525 | 1 of 1 | 0.06 ppb (0.06 ppb) |
| 9 | City of Atwater Atwater, CA | 26,515 | 1 of 2 | 0.05 ppb (0 to 0.1 ppb) |
| 10 | Sayreville W Dept Sayreville, NJ | 39,000 | 1 of 1 | 0.04 ppb (0.04 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Pyrene
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Health-Based Screening Level | A benchmark concentration of contaminants in water that may be of potential concern for human health, if exceeded. For noncarcinogens, the HBSL represents the contaminant concentration in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse effects over a lifetime of exposure. For carcinogens, the HBSL range represents the contaminant concentration in drinking water that corresponds to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 chance in 1 million to 1 chance in 10 thousand. Source: U.S. Geological Survey. | 200 ppb |
| EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria | Water quality criteria set by the US EPA provide guidance for states and tribes authorized to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect human health. These are non-enforceable standards based upon exposure by both drinking water and the contribution of water contamination to other consumed foods. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 830 ppb |
Testing Summary for Pyrene
| Are tests routinely required for Pyrene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Pyrene (2004-2009): | 2,607 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2000 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicology 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Cancer Research 1982 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1978 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Cancer Research 1971 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1983 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1985 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2008 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science 1977 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Proceedings, National Cancer Conference 1965 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2002 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 |
| One or more in vitro tests on microorganisms show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1989 |
| One or more in vitro tests on microorganisms show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Gann Monograph 1968 |
| One or more in vitro tests on microorganisms show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Biochemical Journal 1968 |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | PYRENE | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | PYRENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant under Canada's Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics program - targeted for elimination or reduction |
| OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern | PYRENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, chemical of concern |
| Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature | PYRENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Limited or emerging evidence in open scientific literature |
| EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) | PYRENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, priority chemical for voluntary waste/emission reductions |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | PYRENE | •Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (EPA classification) |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | PYRENE | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | PYRENE | •This chemical was flagged for further attention by CEPA due to suspected aquatic toxicity and persistence. |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | PYRENE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Biochemical Journal 1968 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (salmon tes) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1971 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (hamster emb) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1982 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (rat lvr) |
| RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science 1977 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1985 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (mouse emb) |
| RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1983 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (hamster lvr) |
| RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1984 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Gann Monograph 1968 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (non-mammalian species ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1978 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (rat emb) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (mouse lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1989 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (non-mammalian species mul) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells ( human oth) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2000 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human leu) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2002 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (mouse emb) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2008 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings, National Cancer Conference 1965 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (hamster kdy) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 1981 | PYRENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis ( human fbr) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | EC (Environment Canada). 1994. Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET). ARET substance list of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals. |
| OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern | OSPAR (Oslo-Paris). 2002. OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic. |
| Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
| EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1998. Resource Conservatin and Recovery Act (RCRA) Waste Minimization Program - priority chemicals for elimination or reduction. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Evidence for human carcinogenicity based on 1986-2005 guidelines. |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures). |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J.V., Institut Pro Vychovu Vedoucicn Pracovniku Chemickeho Prumyclu Praha, Czechoslovakia, 1972 -,26,1972 |
| RTECS®- Biochemical Journal 1968 | RTECS®- Biochemical Journal. (Biochemical Soc. Book Depot, POB 32, Commerce Way, Colchester, Essex CO2 8HP, UK) V.1- 110,159,1968 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1971 | RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 31,1118,1971 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1982 | RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 42,3010,1982 |
| RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science 1977 | RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science. (Elsevier Science, New York, NY) V.1-15, 1977-87. Discontinued 2,249,1977 |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1985 | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku. Bulletin of the Institute of Hygienic Sciences. (Kokuritsu Eisei Shikenjo Kagaku, 18-1 Bushitsu Johobu, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan) V.1- (103),64,1985 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 12,21,1988 |
| RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1983 | RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis. (New York, NY) V.1-9, 1979-87. For publisher information, see EMMUEG. 5,1,1983 |
| RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1984 | RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis. (New York, NY) V.1-9, 1979-87. For publisher information, see EMMUEG. 6(Suppl 2),1,1984 |
| RTECS®- Gann Monograph 1968 | RTECS®- Gann Monograph. (Tokyo, Japan) No.1-10, 1966-71. For publisher information, see GMCRDC. 6,49,1968 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1978 | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. (Hemisphere Pub., 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005) V.1- 4,79,1978 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 3,193,1988 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1989 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 4,17,1989 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 130,127,1984 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 147,79,1985 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 203,155,1988 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 211,77,1989 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2000 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 468,93,2000 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2002 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 515,85,2002 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 557,99,2004 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 558,181,2004 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 588,7,2005 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2008 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 650,96,2008 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings, National Cancer Conference 1965 | RTECS®- Proceedings, National Cancer Conference. (Philadelphia, PA) V.1-7, 1949-72. For publisher information, see CANCAR. 5,39,1965 |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,387,1981 |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,626,1981 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 1981 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 21,151,1981 |
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