EWG INVESTIGATION
Findings
About The Data
News Release
EWG Statement, 03/10/2008
Related News Clips
WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER?
Find Your Water Company
NATIONAL SUMMARY
Quality Varies Across the U.S.
CONTAMINANTS DATABASE
Find a Contaminant
Credits
Sign up to receive email updates from EWG
|
|
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. Methyl isobutyl ketone is a 4-methyl 2-pentanone is an industrial chemical used in wide range of applications, including the production of paints, pesticides, textiles, inks, and rubber.. Potential health impacts associated with Methyl isobutyl ketone include developmental toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. Sources of Methyl isobutyl ketone:  | Industry |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of Methyl isobutyl ketone tests reported by 6,930 public water suppliers in 12 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 572 thousand people in 142 communities drank water contaminated with Methyl isobutyl ketone. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Methyl isobutyl ketone remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit. Exposure Summary 571,643 | People drinking water contaminated with Methyl isobutyl ketone | 142 | Communities served water contaminated with Methyl isobutyl ketone |
|
Table. Methyl isobutyl ketone Exposure by State572 thousand Americans in 7 states were served tap water contaminated with Methyl isobutyl ketone between 1998 and 2003. Table. The most polluted communities572,000 Americans in 142 communities were served tap water contaminated with Methyl isobutyl ketone between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average Methyl isobutyl ketone level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County Water District 4 & 34
Alhambra, CA | 110,444 | 1 of 1 | 118 ppb
(118 to 118 ppb) | | 2 | Bear Springs Trails Subdivision
STAFFORD, TX | 75 | 1 of 1 | 100.8 ppb
(100.8 to 100.8 ppb) | | 3 | Orangefield Water Supply Commission
Orangefield, TX | 3,618 | 1 of 2 | 61.5 ppb
(0 to 123 ppb) | | 4 | Sims - Whitney Utilities Authority
Tawas City, MI | 4,950 | 3 of 3 | 30.67 ppb
(18 to 46 ppb) | | 5 | Minerva Water Supply Commission
Rockdale, TX | 288 | 1 of 1 | 26 ppb
(26 to 26 ppb) | | 6 | San Jacinto Water Supply Commission
Coldspring, TX | 3,597 | 1 of 4 | 18.5 ppb
(0 to 74 ppb) | | 7 | Ponderosa Hills Subdivision
Weatherford, TX | 120 | 1 of 1 | 18 ppb
(18 to 18 ppb) | | 8 | South Murvaul Water Supply Commission
Gary, TX | 534 | 1 of 1 | 16 ppb
(16 to 16 ppb) | | 9 | Arcola
Nixa, MO | 72 | 1 of 1 | 12.4 ppb
(12.4 to 12.4 ppb) | | 10 | North Hunt Water Supply Commission
Commerce, TX | 3,540 | 1 of 4 | 11.5 ppb
(0 to 46 ppb) |
Next --> Testing Summary for Methyl isobutyl ketone Water suppliers report an average of 0.8 Methyl isobutyl ketone tests per year. 32,821 water suppliers failed to report
any Methyl isobutyl ketone tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for Methyl isobutyl ketone by federal law? | No | | Water suppliers reporting tests for Methyl isobutyl ketone (1998-2003): | 6,930 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 0.8 per year |
|
Methyl isobutyl ketone Violations Because Methyl isobutyl ketone 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 Methyl isobutyl ketone, and any level is legal in tap water.
|
