National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
n-Hexane
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
n-Hexane is a solvent used to extract oil from vegetables, a cleaning agent in printing, textile, furniture, and shoe industries, a component of gasoline, and a chemical in craft supplies such as quick-drying glue and rubber cement.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 1 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 3 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 361 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for n-Hexane:
- Neurotoxicity
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Occupational hazards
- Cancer
- Ecotoxicology
- Miscellaneous
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Multiple, additive exposure sources
n-Hexane Exposure by State
Water utilities in 1 states have reported detecting n-Hexane in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with n-Hexane contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Texas | 3 | 361 |
| Total | 3 | 361 |
The Most Polluted Communities
3 water utilities reported detecting n-Hexane in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average n-Hexane level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesa Grande Wsc Weatherford, TX | 351 | 1 of 1 | 5.09 ppb (5.09 ppb) |
| 2 | Bluff Dale Wsc Bluff Dale, TX | 1 | 2 of 2 | 2.75 ppb (1.69 to 3.8 ppb) |
| 3 | B F E Water Co Weatherford, TX | 9 | 1 of 1 | 0.53 ppb (0.53 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for n-Hexane
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 4000 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 10000 ppb |
Testing Summary for n-Hexane
| Are tests routinely required for n-Hexane by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for n-Hexane (2004-2009): | 80 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 1.2 per year |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at low doses | 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 |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
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,2005 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 |
| 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 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Single case study detailing occupational hazards | Frazier , L, 1998 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 2000 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Miscellaneous
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
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 |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | N-HEXANE | •Highly flammable •Highly flammable •Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity •Possible risk of impaired fertility •Harmful •Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation •Toxic to aquatic organisms |
| FDA Food Additive Status | HEXANE | • Food additive: solvent • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • 25 parts per million as residue - In spice oleoresins (173.270) • 2.2% by weight - As residue in hops extract • extract added before or during cooking of beer -173.270 • miscellaneous • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • 25 parts per million - In modified hop extract for beer - CFR172.560 • miscellaneous • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • 5 parts per million as residue |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | HEXANE | • S |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | HEXANE | • S |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | HEXANE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | HEXANE | •This chemical was deemed a high human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical is suspected to be a developmental and reproductive toxin and suspected of aquatic toxicity. |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | HEXANE | •Prohibited in EU cosmetics: must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | HEXANE | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | N-HEXANE | •Skin Designation (ACGIH) - Danger of cutaneous absorption (ACGIH): Yes; •Neurotoxin: Motor Neuropathy; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 500 ppm; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 50 ppm; •BEI - Biological Exposure Indices (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene, ACGIH): 2,5-Hexanedione (free) in urine = 0.4 mg/L end of shift at end of workweek;; •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: 1100 ppm; •Odor Threshold High - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 248 ppm; •Odor Threshold Low - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 65 ppm; •MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Federal Republic of Germany): 50 ppm; |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | HEXANE | •Pesticide inerts of toxicological concern according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | HEXANE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Frazier , L, 1998 | N-HEXANE | •Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1984 | HEXANE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1984 | HEXANE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 | HEXANE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 | HEXANE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | HEXANE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 2000 | HEXANE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat scu) |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 2000 | HEXANE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat scu) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | HEXANE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | HEXANE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
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. |
| 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. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| 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." |
| 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 | Frazier , L. and M. L. Hage (eds.). Reproductive Hazards of the Workplace, Wiley Europe, 1998. Table 10 (Partial List of Reproductive Toxicants) available at http://www.pharmacy.ohio-state.edu/homepage/safety/chemhygiene_table_repro.pdf. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1984 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 22,623,1984 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1984 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 1982- 22,623,1984 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 341,83,1994 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 341,83,1994 |
| 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®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 2000 | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 1980- 20,329,2000 |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 2000 | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 20,329,2000 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 55,501,1980 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 55,501,1980 |
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