EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Varies Across the U.S.

CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

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

2-Hexanone is an unregulated water disinfection byproduct; it was formerly used in paint and paint thinner, to make other chemical substances, and to dissolve oils and waxes, but is largely phased out of commercial use. Potential health impacts associated with 2-Hexanone include gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, neurotoxicity, and skin sensitivity.

Sources of 2-Hexanone:

	Industry
	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 2-Hexanone tests reported by 4,266 public water suppliers in 7 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 3,743 people in 5 communities drank water contaminated with 2-Hexanone. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.2-Hexanone remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

3,743 People drinking water contaminated with 2-Hexanone 5 Communities served water contaminated with 2-Hexanone

Table. 2-Hexanone Exposure by State

3,743 Americans in 1 states were served tap water contaminated with 2-Hexanone between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with 2-Hexanone contamination
	Systems	Population
Texas	5	3,743
Total	5	3,743

Table. The most polluted communities

3,743 Americans in 5 communities were served tap water contaminated with 2-Hexanone between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 2-Hexanone level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Study Butte Terlingua Water System Terlingua, TX	312	1 of 2	3.4 ppb (0 to 6.8 ppb)
2	Cypress Creek Utility District Cypress, TX	3,231	1 of 4	0.48 ppb (0 to 1.9 ppb)
3	Big Q Mobile Home Estates Lubbock, TX	100	1 of 5	0.26 ppb (0 to 1.3 ppb)
4	Houston County Wcid 1 CROCKETT, TX	25	1 of 11	0.23 ppb (0 to 2.5 ppb)
5	Country Squire Mhp 2 Lubbock, TX	75	1 of 8	0.14 ppb (0 to 1.1 ppb)

Testing Summary for 2-Hexanone

Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 2-Hexanone tests per year. 35,485 water suppliers failed to report any 2-Hexanone tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 2-Hexanone by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for 2-Hexanone (1998-2003): 4,266 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.7 per year

2-Hexanone Violations

Because 2-Hexanone 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 2-Hexanone, and any level is legal in tap water.