National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
n-Propylbenzene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
n-Propylbenzene is a solvent used in textile dyeing and printing, a pollutant from asphalt and landfill leachate, and a constituent of petroleum and coal.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 17 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 43 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 356,266 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for n-Propylbenzene:
- Occupational hazards
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Ecotoxicology
- Miscellaneous
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
n-Propylbenzene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 17 states have reported detecting n-Propylbenzene 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-Propylbenzene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| California | 5 | 109,169 |
| New York | 10 | 71,252 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 70,133 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 56,000 |
| Nebraska | 3 | 30,681 |
| Iowa | 2 | 6,885 |
| Missouri | 3 | 3,539 |
| Washington | 1 | 2,865 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1,000 |
| North Carolina | 7 | 964 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 960 |
| Vermont | 1 | 825 |
| Texas | 1 | 558 |
| Delaware | 1 | 500 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 424 |
| Montana | 1 | 350 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 161 |
| Total | 43 | 356,266 |
The Most Polluted Communities
43 water utilities reported detecting n-Propylbenzene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average n-Propylbenzene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collingwood Associates, L.P. King Of Prussia, NY | 360 | 1 of 3 | 24 ppb (0 to 72 ppb) |
| 2 | Long Beach Water Department Long Beach, WA | 2,865 | 1 of 11 | 5.45 ppb (0 to 60 ppb) |
| 3 | Jericho Underhill Water Underhill, VT | 825 | 4 of 7 | 5.23 ppb (0 to 28.2 ppb) |
| 4 | Freedom Sanitary District Kaukauna, WI | 1,000 | 1 of 1 | 1.1 ppb (1.1 ppb) |
| 5 | Round Lake Round Lake, MN | 424 | 1 of 4 | 0.95 ppb (0 to 3.8 ppb) |
| 6 | Hudson Water Supply Hudson, IA | 2,117 | 1 of 1 | 0.8 ppb (0.8 ppb) |
| 7 | Winterset Municipal Waterworks Winterset, IA | 4,768 | 1 of 1 | 0.8 ppb (0.8 ppb) |
| 8 | Flathead Co Water District NO 8 Whitefish, MT | 350 | 1 of 4 | 0.78 ppb (0 to 3.1 ppb) |
| 9 | Ashebrook Park Gastonia, NC | 239 | 1 of 2 | 0.7 ppb (0 to 1.4 ppb) |
| 10 | Durham Park Wsc Liberty Hill, TX | 558 | 1 of 6 | 0.69 ppb (0 to 4.15 ppb) |
Testing Summary for n-Propylbenzene
| Are tests routinely required for n-Propylbenzene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for n-Propylbenzene (2004-2009): | 20,585 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as irritant | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as potentially toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Not 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 |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CUMENE; [1] ; PROPYLBENZENE [2] | •Flammable •Harmful •Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed •Irritant (eyes, skin, or lungs) •Irritating to respiratory system •Dangerous for the environment •Toxic to aquatic organisms |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZENE, PROPYL- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
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. |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.