EWG Investigation | U.S. Tap Water Quality Database

Health Limit Exceeded
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Legal Limit
• EPA set legal limit which balances health concerns and treatment costs

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EWG INVESTIGATION

Findings

About The Data

News Release

EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

1,3-Dichloropropene

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

1,3-Dichloropropene is used in chemical synthesis and soil fumigants; it is used as a nematocide and a corrosion inhibition agent. Potential health impacts associated with 1,3-Dichloropropene include cancer, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, immunotoxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity.

Sources of 1,3-Dichloropropene:
Agriculture Agriculture (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 1,3-Dichloropropene tests reported by 12,369 public water suppliers in 22 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 113 thousand people in 7 communities drank water contaminated with 1,3-Dichloropropene. In 2 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds. 1,3-Dichloropropene remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

113,428
People drinking water contaminated with 1,3-Dichloropropene
7
Communities served water contaminated with 1,3-Dichloropropene
4,777
People drinking water contaminated with 1,3-Dichloropropene over health based limits
2
Communities served water with 1,3-Dichloropropene above health based limits

Table. 1,3-Dichloropropene Exposure by State

4,777 Americans in 1 states were served tap water contaminated with 1,3-Dichloropropene at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State Water suppliers with 1,3-Dichloropropene contamination Water suppliers reporting 1,3-Dichloropropene above health-based limits
Systems Population Systems Population
North Carolina 3 6,392 2 4,777
Tennessee 3 106,886 0 0
California 1 150 0 0
Total 7 113,428 2 4,777

Table. The most polluted communities

4,777 Americans in 2 communities were served tap water contaminated with 1,3-Dichloropropene above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 1,3-Dichloropropene level

Rank System Population Served Positive test results of total reported tests Average Level
(Range)
1 Riverside Apartments
Cullowhee, NC 55 1 of 6 0.77 ppb
(0 to 4.64 ppb)
2 Town of Longview Water
Longview, NC 4,722 2 of 5 0.29 ppb
(0 to 0.83 ppb)

Health based limits for 1,3-Dichloropropene

Health Limit Limit Value Limit Description
One in ten thousand (10-4) Cancer Risk 40 ppb The concentration of a chemical in drinking water corresponding to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 10,000. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
California Public Health Goals 0.2 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 10 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 30 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 30 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.
Drinking Water Equivalent Level 1000 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 1,3-Dichloropropene

Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 1,3-Dichloropropene tests per year. 27,382 water suppliers failed to report any 1,3-Dichloropropene tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 1,3-Dichloropropene by federal law? No
Water suppliers reporting tests for 1,3-Dichloropropene (1998-2003): 12,369 of 39,751
Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.7 per year

1,3-Dichloropropene Violations

Because 1,3-Dichloropropene 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 1,3-Dichloropropene, and any level is legal in tap water.