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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is a pollutant from textile finishing factories. Potential health impacts associated with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene include cancer, developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity, neurotoxicity, and respiratory toxicity. [read more]

Sources of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene:

Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene tests reported by 31,882 public water suppliers in 42 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 464 thousand people in 45 communities drank water contaminated with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene.

Exposure Summary

463,725 People drinking water contaminated with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 45 Communities served water contaminated with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

Table. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Exposure by State

464 thousand Americans in 17 states were served tap water contaminated with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene contamination
	Systems	Population
Kentucky	1	279,214
Florida	7	77,596
California	2	51,500
Arkansas	10	18,420
New Jersey	3	14,285
Pennsylvania	1	6,133
Colorado	5	5,224
Missouri	3	3,364
Ohio	1	2,975
Washington	1	1,700
Texas	1	1,431
New Hampshire	3	544
Alaska	2	375
Wisconsin	1	365
North Carolina	2	332
Indiana	1	240
Nevada	1	27
Total	45	463,725

Table. The most polluted communities

464,000 Americans in 45 communities were served tap water contaminated with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Cottonwood Lane Mhp	240	1 of 1	1 ppb (1 to 1 ppb)
2	Kenny Lake Community Well Copper Center, AK	310	1 of 3	0.97 ppb (0 to 2.9 ppb)
3	Coraopolis Borough Water Department Coraopolis, PA	6,133	1 of 6	0.77 ppb (0 to 4.6 ppb)
4	Maple Haven Derry, NH	95	1 of 1	0.76 ppb (0.76 to 0.76 ppb)
5	Devils Gate Gid District 1 Eureka, NV	27	1 of 10	0.55 ppb (0 to 5.5 ppb)
6	Colby Pond Danville, NH	399	1 of 1	0.51 ppb (0.51 to 0.51 ppb)
7	Rolling Meadows Condos Iii Londonderry, NH	50	1 of 1	0.5 ppb (0.5 to 0.5 ppb)
8	Charmwood Subdivision Stanton, MO	28	1 of 2	0.45 ppb (0 to 0.9 ppb)
9	Lakeview Terr Ret. Srvcs., Inc. Altoona, FL	330	1 of 3	0.33 ppb (0 to 0.98 ppb)
10	Livingston Co Public Water Supply Distri Ludlow, MO	1,250	1 of 2	0.3 ppb (0 to 0.6 ppb)

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Health based limits for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	70 ppb	The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG)	70 ppb	A non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
California Public Health Goals	5 ppb	Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health.
EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria	260 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.
Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure	100 ppb	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure	100 ppb	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Lifetime health-based limit, non-cancer risk	70 ppb	Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for a lifetime of exposure. The Lifetime health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is based on exposure for a a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Drinking Water Equivalent Level	400 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 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene tests per year. 7,869 water suppliers failed to report any 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (1998-2003): 31,882 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.7 per year

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Violations

Table. 5.0 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	4,750	2,864
	(5.0% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	4,748	2,864
	(5.0% of all suppliers)
Reporting violations (1998-2003)	2	1
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)