National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
tert-Butylbenzene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
tert-Butylbenzene is a pollutant from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and various industrial processes.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 6 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 13 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 41,075 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for tert-Butylbenzene:
tert-Butylbenzene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 6 states have reported detecting tert-Butylbenzene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with tert-Butylbenzene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| New York | 4 | 30,705 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 6,112 |
| Missouri | 1 | 2,779 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 1,169 |
| Washington | 1 | 250 |
| Virginia | 1 | 60 |
| Total | 13 | 41,075 |
The Most Polluted Communities
13 water utilities reported detecting tert-Butylbenzene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average tert-Butylbenzene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedford Hills/Taconic Corr. Facilities Bedford Hills, NY | 1,100 | 1 of 1 | 0.5 ppb (0.5 ppb) |
| 2 | Woodbridge S/D Mt Airy, NC | 272 | 2 of 10 | 0.46 ppb (0 to 3.9 ppb) |
| 3 | Providence North S/D Stokesdale, NC | 76 | 1 of 9 | 0.28 ppb (0 to 2.5 ppb) |
| 4 | Ponderosa Mobile Home Park Jeffersonton, VA | 60 | 1 of 5 | 0.24 ppb (0 to 1.2 ppb) |
| 5 | Metz Water Association Spokane, WA | 250 | 1 of 3 | 0.19 ppb (0 to 0.58 ppb) |
| 6 | Middle Creek Master Garner, NC | 681 | 1 of 16 | 0.18 ppb (0 to 2.8 ppb) |
| 7 | Wild Oaks Water Company Rockport, NY | 805 | 1 of 3 | 0.17 ppb (0 to 0.5 ppb) |
| 8 | Watson Chapel Water Assoc Pine Bluff, AR | 6,112 | 2 of 12 | 0.13 ppb (0 to 0.88 ppb) |
| 9 | Mcwa, Genesee West Rochester, NY | 800 | 2 of 3 | 0.12 ppb (0 to 0.23 ppb) |
| 10 | Dove Meadows S/D Gastonia, NC | 41 | 2 of 13 | 0.09 ppb (0 to 0.7 ppb) |
Testing Summary for tert-Butylbenzene
| Are tests routinely required for tert-Butylbenzene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for tert-Butylbenzene (2004-2009): | 20,563 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| 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) |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZENE, (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
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