EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER?

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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.

Anthracene is a pollutant from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. It is also used in manufacture of dyes, wood preservatives, synthetic fibers, plastics and other industrial and consumer goods; and is a chemical that leaches from water distribution system tanks and pipes lined with coal tar. Potential health impacts associated with Anthracene include endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, and skin sensitivity.

Sources of Anthracene:

	Sprawl and Urban Areas (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste)
	Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Anthracene tests reported by 2,972 public water suppliers in 12 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 7,966 people in 4 communities drank water contaminated with Anthracene. Anthracene remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

7,966 People drinking water contaminated with Anthracene 4 Communities served water contaminated with Anthracene

Table. Anthracene Exposure by State

7,966 Americans in 1 states were served tap water contaminated with Anthracene between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Anthracene contamination
	Systems	Population
Arkansas	4	7,966
Total	4	7,966

Table. The most polluted communities

7,966 Americans in 4 communities were served tap water contaminated with Anthracene between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Anthracene level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Rector Waterworks Rector, AR	2,730	1 of 10	34.7 ppb (0 to 347 ppb)
2	Wilmot Waterworks Wilmot, AR	992	4 of 5	0.32 ppb (0 to 0.62 ppb)
3	Holly Grove Waterworks Holly Grove, AR	2,281	1 of 3	0.09 ppb (0 to 0.26 ppb)
4	Elaine Waterworks Elaine, AR	1,963	1 of 3	0.08 ppb (0 to 0.25 ppb)

Health based limits for Anthracene

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria	8300 ppb	Water quality criteria set by the US EPA provide guidance for states and tribes authorized to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect human health. These are non-enforceable standards based upon exposure by both drinking water and the contribution of water contamination to other consumed foods. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Drinking Water Equivalent Level	10000 ppb	A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Testing Summary for Anthracene

Water suppliers report an average of 0.5 Anthracene tests per year. 36,779 water suppliers failed to report any Anthracene tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Anthracene by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for Anthracene (1998-2003): 2,972 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.5 per year

Anthracene Violations

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