EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

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CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Tetrahydrofuran is an intermediate in chemical manufacturing and a solvent for dyes and lacquers. It is used in production of food storage and packaging materials, rubber, resins, and plastics; and as an indirect food additive. Potential health impacts associated with Tetrahydrofuran include cardiovascular or blood toxicity, developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, neurotoxicity, and respiratory toxicity. [read more]

Sources of Tetrahydrofuran:

Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Tetrahydrofuran tests reported by 5,461 public water suppliers in 12 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 262 thousand people in 142 communities drank water contaminated with Tetrahydrofuran. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Tetrahydrofuran remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

262,284 People drinking water contaminated with Tetrahydrofuran 142 Communities served water contaminated with Tetrahydrofuran

Table. Tetrahydrofuran Exposure by State

262 thousand Americans in 8 states were served tap water contaminated with Tetrahydrofuran between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Tetrahydrofuran contamination
	Systems	Population
Texas	109	132,875
New Mexico	19	82,158
New Jersey	3	38,196
Minnesota	5	6,516
New Hampshire	3	2,170
Nevada	1	172
Pennsylvania	1	146
Delaware	1	51
Total	142	262,284

Table. The most polluted communities

262,000 Americans in 142 communities were served tap water contaminated with Tetrahydrofuran between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Tetrahydrofuran level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Churchill Ranchos Estates Stagecoach, NV	172	2 of 2	495 ppb (370 to 620 ppb)
2	Candy Kitchen Water Coop Pinehill, NM	50	1 of 2	285 ppb (0 to 570 ppb)
3	King Ranch Laureles Houston, TX	52	1 of 3	114.93 ppb (0 to 344.8 ppb)
4	Whitefield Water Sys Whitefield, NH	1,450	1 of 1	51 ppb (51 to 51 ppb)
5	Worthington Mhp Dickinson, TX	45	1 of 2	46.5 ppb (0 to 93 ppb)
6	Mcguire Air Force Base N Hanover Twp, NJ	9,046	1 of 2	37.1 ppb (0 to 74.2 ppb)
7	Lakeland Water System Hideaway Livingston, TX	375	1 of 5	35.4 ppb (0 to 177 ppb)
8	River Tree Estates Hunt, TX	36	1 of 1	31 ppb (31 to 31 ppb)
9	White Pines College Chester, NH	240	1 of 1	23 ppb (23 to 23 ppb)
10	Hidden Valley Estates Mdwca Jemez Springs, NM	30	2 of 2	22.51 ppb (3.92 to 41.1 ppb)

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Testing Summary for Tetrahydrofuran

Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 Tetrahydrofuran tests per year. 34,290 water suppliers failed to report any Tetrahydrofuran tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Tetrahydrofuran by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for Tetrahydrofuran (1998-2003): 5,461 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.7 per year

Tetrahydrofuran Violations

Because Tetrahydrofuran 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 Tetrahydrofuran, and any level is legal in tap water.