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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. Acetone is a ubiquitous industrial solvent and chemical intermediate; it is used in manufacture of plastic, fibers, cosmetics, photographic film, and many other kinds of consumer goods. Potential health impacts associated with Acetone include cardiovascular or blood toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. Sources of Acetone:  | Sprawl and Urban Areas (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) |  | Industry |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of Acetone tests reported by 5,297 public water suppliers in 13 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 5.6 million people in 440 communities drank water contaminated with Acetone. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Acetone remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit. Exposure Summary 5,599,503 | People drinking water contaminated with Acetone | 440 | Communities served water contaminated with Acetone |
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Table. Acetone Exposure by State5.6 million Americans in 9 states were served tap water contaminated with Acetone between 1998 and 2003. | State | Water suppliers with Acetone contamination |
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| Systems | Population |
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| Texas | 266 | 2,512,621 | | New Jersey | 78 | 1,455,531 | | Pennsylvania | 35 | 1,099,648 | | New Hampshire | 25 | 224,732 | | Delaware | 6 | 211,559 | | Minnesota | 18 | 71,082 | | Ohio | 2 | 10,120 | | Nevada | 7 | 7,420 | | California | 3 | 6,790 | | Total | 440 | 5,599,503 |
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Table. The most polluted communities5.6 million Americans in 440 communities were served tap water contaminated with Acetone between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average Acetone level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
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| 1 | Canyon Regional Water Authority Crwa Hay
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX | 200 | 1 of 1 | 553.4 ppb
(553.4 to 553.4 ppb) | | 2 | Pine Knoll Village
Lee, NH | 200 | 1 of 1 | 200 ppb
(200 to 200 ppb) | | 3 | Churchill Ranchos Estates
Stagecoach, NV | 172 | 2 of 2 | 190 ppb
(160 to 220 ppb) | | 4 | Whip O Will Coop
Plymouth, NH | 165 | 1 of 1 | 79 ppb
(79 to 79 ppb) | | 5 | Manor Water Associations
Mantua Twp, NJ | 105 | 2 of 2 | 74.1 ppb
(35.2 to 113 ppb) | | 6 | Wilderness Cove
MARBLE FALLS, TX | 0 | 1 of 1 | 70 ppb
(70 to 70 ppb) | | 7 | Wrightstown Municipal Utilites Authority
Wrightstown Boro, NJ | 950 | 1 of 1 | 62.8 ppb
(62.8 to 62.8 ppb) | | 8 | Woodland Grove
Conway, NH | 155 | 1 of 1 | 62 ppb
(62 to 62 ppb) | | 9 | Sunrise Mountain Tp
Santa Barabra, CA | 100 | 1 of 1 | 55.7 ppb
(55.7 to 55.7 ppb) | | 10 | Grey Nuns of The Sacred Heart
Yardley, PA | 430 | 1 of 1 | 53.8 ppb
(53.8 to 53.8 ppb) |
Next --> Testing Summary for Acetone Water suppliers report an average of 0.6 Acetone tests per year. 34,454 water suppliers failed to report
any Acetone tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for Acetone by federal law? | No | | Water suppliers reporting tests for Acetone (1998-2003): | 5,297 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 0.6 per year |
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Acetone Violations Because Acetone is unregulated in tap water, no violations are
recorded in EPA's violations database, the Safe Drinking Water Information
System. Under the federal tap water law, water suppliers are not required
to routinely test for Acetone, and any level is legal in tap water.
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