National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Simazine
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Simazine is a widely used herbicide that has been associated with endocrine disruption and cancer in experimental studies. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 21 |
1 |
1 |
| Water utilities | 194 |
2 |
2 |
| People Served | 16,474,435 |
1,340 |
1,340 |
Health Concerns for Simazine:
- Endocrine disruption
- Cancer
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
- Multiple, additive exposure sources
Simazine Exposure by State
Water utilities in 21 states have reported detecting Simazine in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Simazine contamination | Water suppliers reporting Simazine above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Illinois | 26 | 257,346 | 2 | 1,340 |
| Texas | 29 | 4,213,071 | 0 | 0 |
| Maryland | 9 | 3,586,073 | 0 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 24 | 1,921,310 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio | 35 | 1,832,627 | 0 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | 1,734,619 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana | 18 | 1,214,336 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida | 3 | 424,510 | 0 | 0 |
| California | 4 | 412,446 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 15 | 220,861 | 0 | 0 |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Idaho | 1 | 185,787 | 0 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 80,258 | 0 | 0 |
| Alabama | 2 | 56,037 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 43,809 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 33,350 | 0 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 2 | 26,115 | 0 | 0 |
| Missouri | 7 | 23,283 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 1 | 4,971 | 0 | 0 |
| Iowa | 2 | 1,826 | 0 | 0 |
| New York | 1 | 800 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 194 | 16,474,435 | 2 | 1,340 |
The Most Polluted Communities
194 water utilities reported detecting Simazine in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Simazine level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farina Farina, IL | 600 | 27 of 27 | 3.01 ppb (0.4 to 7.8 ppb) |
| 2 | Keenhold Assoc Water Sys PA | 40 | 1 of 1 | 2 ppb (2 ppb) |
| 3 | Lake Region Mobile Home Village Haines City, FL | 565 | 1 of 1 | 1 ppb (1 ppb) |
| 4 | Brookside Village Mhp South Vienna, OH | 475 | 1 of 1 | 0.79 ppb (0.79 ppb) |
| 5 | Evansville Evansville, IL | 740 | 12 of 25 | 0.65 ppb (0 to 4.2 ppb) |
| 6 | Salem Salem, IL | 9,000 | 6 of 21 | 0.54 ppb (0 to 3.6 ppb) |
| 7 | Green Grove Trailer Ct Greencastle, PA | 49 | 1 of 2 | 0.5 ppb (0 to 1 ppb) |
| 8 | Patoka Patoka, IL | 731 | 6 of 10 | 0.48 ppb (0 to 1.7 ppb) |
| 9 | Mattoon Mattoon, IL | 19,000 | 5 of 22 | 0.44 ppb (0 to 3.1 ppb) |
| 10 | Vandalia Vandalia, IL | 6,975 | 6 of 21 | 0.43 ppb (0 to 3.6 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Simazine
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 4 ppb |
| Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG) | A non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 4 ppb |
| California Public Health Goals | Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health. | 4 ppb |
| Drinking Water Equivalent Level | A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 700 ppb |
Testing Summary for Simazine
| Are tests routinely required for Simazine by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Simazine (2004-2009): | 23,041 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Violation Summary for Simazine
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Simazine since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 4 |
| Monitoring Violations | 1,897 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Endocrine disruption
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Possible human disruptor | FDA Food Additive Status |
| Human disruptor - moderate evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| Limited evidence of endocrine disruption | Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Cancer - limited evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cancer - limited evidence | US EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs, 2002 |
| Cancer - limited evidence | Silent Spring's Mammary Carcinogens Reviews Database |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Bolletino della Societe Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 8973 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2003 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1977 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B: Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes 1980 |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses | RTECS®- Ciba-Geigy Toxicology Data/Indexes 1977 |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | US EPA, 1788 |
| Limited evidence of kidney toxicity | US EPA, 1788 |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- Ciba-Geigy Toxicology Data/Indexes 1977 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Water Framework Directive |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | SIMAZINE | •Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect •Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | SIMAZINE | •Prohibited in EU cosmetics: must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products |
| European Union - Water Framework Directive | SIMAZINE | •Priority substance in EU water policy |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | 6-CHLORO-N,N'-DIETHYL-1,3,5-TRIAZINE-2,4-DIAMINE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | SIMAZINE | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| US EPA, 1788 | SIMAZINE | •Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, 1788 | SIMAZINE | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences | SIMAZINE | •Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs, 2002 | SIMAZINE | •Cancer hazards: suspected |
| Silent Spring's Mammary Carcinogens Reviews Database | SIMAZINE | •Chemicals Shown to Cause Mammary Gland Tumors in Animal Studies |
| FDA Food Additive Status | SIMAZINE | • Food additive: herbicide • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Tolerances for Residues - 40 Code of Federal Regulations 180.213 |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | SIMAZINE | HH-CAT2;WF-CAT3 |
| RTECS®- Bolletino della Societe Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 1984 | SIMAZINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Ciba-Geigy Toxicology Data/Indexes 1977 | SIMAZINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B: Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes 1980 | SIMAZINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Drosophila melanogaster orl) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1977 | SIMAZINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Dominant Lethal Strain (Drosophila melanogaster par) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Drosophila melanogaster par) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2003 | SIMAZINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human orl) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 8973 | SIMAZINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (mouse lym) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | EC (European Commission of the European Union). 1999-2006. Enterprise Directorate-General Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. The rules governing cosmetic products in the European Union, Volume 1, "Cosmetics legislation." |
| European Union - Water Framework Directive | EU (European Union). 2000. Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC ) - integrated river basin management for Europe. List of priority substances. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| 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). |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA. Addition of Certain Chemicals; Toxic Chemical Release Reporting; Community Right to Know. Proposed and Final Rules. 59 Federal Register 1788 (Jan 12, 1994); 59 Federal Register 61432 (November 30, 1994). Summarized in Hazard Information on Toxic Chemicals Added to EPCRA Section 313 Under Chemical Expansion. http://www.epa.gov/tri/chemical/hazard_cx.htm |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA. Addition of Certain Chemicals; Toxic Chemical Release Reporting; Community Right to Know. Proposed and Final Rules. 59 Federal Register 1788 (Jan 12, 1994); 59 Federal Register 61432 (November 30, 1994). Summarized in Hazard Information on Toxic Chemicals Added to EPCRA Section 313 Under Chemical Expansion. http://www.epa.gov/tri/chemical/hazard_cx.htm |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences. Lists of Paradigmatic Chemicals. http://www.nihs.go.jp/hse/endocrine-e/paradigm/paradigm.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs. List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential (5/10/2002). OPP, Washington, DC. http://www.epi.uci.edu/valleycenter/EPAListCarcinogenicChemicals.pdf |
| Silent Spring's Mammary Carcinogens Reviews Database | Rudel RA, KR Attfield, JN Schifano and JG Brody. Chemicals Causing Mammary Gland Tumors in Animals Signal New Directions for Epidemiology, Chemicals Testing, and Risk Assessment for Breast Cancer Prevention. CANCER Supplement. 2007 Jun 15;109(12):2635-2666. |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| RTECS®- Bolletino della Societe Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 1984 | RTECS®- Bolletino della Societe Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale. (Casa Editrice Idelson, Via A. de Gasperi, 55, 80133 Naples, Italy) V.2- 60,2149,1984 |
| RTECS®- Ciba-Geigy Toxicology Data/Indexes 1977 | RTECS®- Ciba-Geigy Toxicology Data/Indexes. (Ciba-Geigy Corp., 556 Morris Ave., Summit, NJ 07901) -,-,1977 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B: Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes 1980 | RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B: Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes. (Marcel Dekker, 270 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016) V.B11- 15,867,1980 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1977 | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. (Hemisphere Pub., 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005) V.1- 3,691,1977 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2003 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 537,141,2003 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 8973 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. PB84-138973 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.