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.

Diethylphthalate is an industrial solvent used in many consumer products, particularly those containing fragrances; it is used in perfume, cologne, deodorant, soap, shampoo, hand lotion, and other personal care products. Potential health impacts associated with Diethylphthalate include endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. [read more]

Sources of Diethylphthalate:

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

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Diethylphthalate tests reported by 3,065 public water suppliers in 13 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 1.6 million people in 84 communities drank water contaminated with Diethylphthalate. Diethylphthalate remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

1,579,872 People drinking water contaminated with Diethylphthalate 84 Communities served water contaminated with Diethylphthalate

Table. Diethylphthalate Exposure by State

1.6 million Americans in 9 states were served tap water contaminated with Diethylphthalate between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Diethylphthalate contamination
	Systems	Population
Texas	43	801,740
Rhode Island	6	266,668
California	3	227,173
Delaware	3	200,276
New Mexico	17	48,662
New Hampshire	3	20,950
Arkansas	7	12,690
Nevada	1	1,650
Maine	1	63
Total	84	1,579,872

Table. The most polluted communities

1.6 million Americans in 84 communities were served tap water contaminated with Diethylphthalate between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Diethylphthalate level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Hedgerow Hollow Trailer Park Smyrna, DE	147	1 of 2	900 ppb (0 to 1800 ppb)
2	Elsinore Valley Municiple Water District Lake Elsinore, CA	95,040	1 of 1	79 ppb (79 to 79 ppb)
3	White Pines College Chester, NH	240	1 of 1	5.4 ppb (5.4 to 5.4 ppb)
4	Mcadoo Water Supply Commission Mcadoo, TX	70	1 of 2	3.3 ppb (0 to 6.6 ppb)
5	Zavala County WCID 1 La Pryor, TX	1,500	1 of 1	3.3 ppb (3.3 to 3.3 ppb)
6	Duval County Conservation & Reclamation Benavides, TX	150	1 of 2	3.01 ppb (0 to 6.02 ppb)
7	Jim Hogg County WCID 2 Hebbronville, TX	5,010	1 of 1	2.65 ppb (2.65 to 2.65 ppb)
8	Snell Hill Village Mhp Lewiston, ME	63	1 of 1	2 ppb (2 to 2 ppb)
9	King Ranch Inc Santa Gertrudis District Houston, TX	415	1 of 2	1.86 ppb (0 to 3.72 ppb)
10	Texas A & M University Kingsville Kingsville, TX	5,500	1 of 2	1.76 ppb (0 to 3.51 ppb)

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Health based limits for Diethylphthalate

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria	1700 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	30000 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 Diethylphthalate

Water suppliers report an average of 0.5 Diethylphthalate tests per year. 36,686 water suppliers failed to report any Diethylphthalate tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Diethylphthalate by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for Diethylphthalate (1998-2003): 3,065 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.5 per year

Diethylphthalate Violations

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