National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
m-Xylene
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
m-Xylene is a petroleum-derived solvent used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries; it is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and an ingredient in paints and varnishes.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 7 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 91 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 1,126,567 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for m-Xylene:
- Neurotoxicity
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Allergies/immunotoxicity
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Occupational hazards
- Cancer
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Miscellaneous
- Ecotoxicology
m-Xylene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 7 states have reported detecting m-Xylene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with m-Xylene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Nebraska | 17 | 539,358 |
| New Jersey | 20 | 297,378 |
| New York | 44 | 199,000 |
| New Mexico | 5 | 60,631 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 27,642 |
| South Dakota | 3 | 1,833 |
| Maryland | 1 | 725 |
| Total | 91 | 1,126,567 |
The Most Polluted Communities
91 water utilities reported detecting m-Xylene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average m-Xylene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owego W D NO 2 Apalachin, NY | 2,754 | 5 of 7 | 9.61 ppb (0 to 24 ppb) |
| 2 | Makawao Wailuku, HI | 27,642 | 2 of 4 | 4.51 ppb (0 to 11 ppb) |
| 3 | Marlboro State Hospital Marlboro Twp, NJ | 280 | 1 of 1 | 4.1 ppb (4.1 ppb) |
| 4 | Sarpy Co. Sid #23 Omaha, NE | 1,000 | 1 of 1 | 3.9 ppb (3.9 ppb) |
| 5 | Hounsfield WD 2 Sackets Harbor, NY | 500 | 15 of 19 | 3.62 ppb (0 to 7.4 ppb) |
| 6 | Village of Shubert Shubert, NE | 240 | 1 of 3 | 3.07 ppb (0 to 9.2 ppb) |
| 7 | City of Osmond Osmond, NE | 796 | 4 of 8 | 2.59 ppb (0 to 9.1 ppb) |
| 8 | Clay Rws/South Union Jefferson, SD | 905 | 2 of 5 | 1.86 ppb (0 to 5.48 ppb) |
| 9 | Manchester Water District NY | 550 | 1 of 2 | 1.75 ppb (0 to 3.5 ppb) |
| 10 | Ennis Parc Pleasant Valley, NY | 175 | 1 of 1 | 1.4 ppb (1.4 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for m-Xylene
| 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. | 10000 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. | 10000 ppb |
Testing Summary for m-Xylene
| Are tests routinely required for m-Xylene by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for m-Xylene (2004-2009): | 6,029 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.5 per year |
Violation Summary for m-Xylene
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for m-Xylene since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 1 |
| Monitoring Violations | 259 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Limited evidence of nervous system toxicity | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| nervous system - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| Possible human cardiovascular toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Possible human sense organ toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Possible human musculoskeletal toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
| Classified as toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal toxicity | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 |
| Limited evidence of cardiovascular or blood toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center |
| Limited evidence of kidney toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center |
| Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center, 1991 |
| One or more animal studies show effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients |
| 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 |
| reproductive - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergies | nternational Programme of Chemical Safety Environmental Health Criteria 180, 1996 |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Human developmental toxicant - moderate evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Human reproductive toxicant - moderate evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | US EPA, 9204 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,281,1971 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Cancer - limited evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2004 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as irritant | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | RTECS®- American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 1962 |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses | RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Miscellaneous
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not 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) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | O-XYLENE; [1] ; P-XYLENE; [2] ; M-XYLENE; [3] ; XYLENE [4] | •Flammable •Harmful •Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin •Irritant (eyes, skin, or lungs) •Irritating to skin |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZENE, 1,3-DIMETHYL- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority. |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | M-XYLENES | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | XYLENE ISOMERS | •Reproductive Toxin - A chemical that is toxic to the reproductive system, including defects in the progeny and injury to male and female reproductive function: Yes; •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •Neurotoxin: CNS Solvent Syndrome; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 100 ppm; •STEL (ACGIH) - Short-term exposure limits (ACGIH): 150 ppm; •RD50 - Concentration producing a 50% decrease in respiratory rate in experimental animals following a 10-minute exposure: 1467 ppm; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 16000 ppm; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 100 ppm; •BEI - Biological Exposure Indices (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene, ACGIH): Methylhippuric acids in urine = 1.5 g/g creatinine; end of shift;; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 3: may ignite at ambient temperature; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 900 ppm;O |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | XYLENE | •Pesticide inerts: potentially toxic, testing priority, according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | 1,3DIMETHYLBENZENE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | M-XYLENE | •Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | M-XYLENE | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | M-XYLENE | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | M-XYLENE | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center, 1991 | M-XYLENE | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, 9204 | M-XYLENE | •Developmental toxicity hazards: suspected |
| nternational Programme of Chemical Safety Environmental Health Criteria 180, 1996 | M-XYLENE | •Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | M-XYLENE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | M-XYLENE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 1962 | M-XYLENE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,281,1971 | M-XYLENE | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | M-XYLENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | M-XYLENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | M-XYLENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | M-XYLENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | M-XYLENE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rat ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2004 | M-XYLENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human fbr) |
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. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2005. Office of Air. The 112(b)1 Hazardous Air Pollutants List (as modified). Last modified: 12 Dec 2005. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1987 & 2005. Office of Pesticide Programs. Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients in Pesticide Products - Categorized List of Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, Lu, F.C. Basic Toxicology. 2nd Edition. 1991., California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA. Roadmaps to Sources of Information on Chemicals Listed in the Emergency Planning Community and Community Right-to-Know Act (Also Known as SARA Title 3), Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory (for Microcomputers). (Report Number EPADFDK92040). 1991. Data file distributed in 2 diskettes by Office of Pollution, Prevention, and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. NOTE: Datasource no longer being maintained by EPA; not currently available online., Jankovic, J. A Screening Method for Occupational Reproductive Health Risk. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. 57: 641-649. 1996. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | nternational Programme of Chemical Safety Environmental Health Criteria 180. Principles and Methods for Assessing Direct Immunotoxicity Associated with Exposure to Chemicals. World Health Organization. Geneva, 1996. (Table 1: Examples of compounds that are immunotoxic for humans or rodents). |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,30,1986 |
| RTECS®- American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 1962 | RTECS®- American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. (AIHA, 475 Wolf Ledges Pkwy., Akron, OH 44311) V.19- 23,95,1962 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,281,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,281,1971 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- 1981- 72,379,2003 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2004 | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 147,35,2004 |
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