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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

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

Aroclor 1242 is a banned pollutant used in electronics. Potential health impacts associated with Aroclor 1242 include cancer, cardiovascular or blood toxicity, developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. [read more]

Sources of Aroclor 1242:

Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Aroclor 1242 tests reported by 6,314 public water suppliers in 24 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 339 people in 2 communities drank water contaminated with Aroclor 1242.

Exposure Summary

339 People drinking water contaminated with Aroclor 1242 2 Communities served water contaminated with Aroclor 1242

Table. Aroclor 1242 Exposure by State

339 Americans in 2 states were served tap water contaminated with Aroclor 1242 between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Aroclor 1242 contamination
	Systems	Population
Washington	1	279
New York	1	60
Total	2	339

Table. The most polluted communities

339 Americans in 2 communities were served tap water contaminated with Aroclor 1242 between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Aroclor 1242 level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Island Utility Seattle, WA	279	1 of 3	1 ppb (0 to 3 ppb)
2	Rolling Hills Mobile Home Park Wappingers Falls, NY	60	1 of 1	< 0.01 ppb (0.01 to 0.01 ppb)

Health based limits for Aroclor 1242

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	0.5 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.

Testing Summary for Aroclor 1242

Water suppliers report an average of 0.4 Aroclor 1242 tests per year. 33,437 water suppliers failed to report any Aroclor 1242 tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Aroclor 1242 by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for Aroclor 1242 (1998-2003): 6,314 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.4 per year

Aroclor 1242 Violations

Table. 0.3 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for Aroclor 1242 between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	182	144
	(0.3% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	181	144
	(0.3% of all suppliers)
Reporting violations (1998-2003)	1	1
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)