EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Varies Across the U.S.

CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

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Credits

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

Trichlorotrifluoroethane is an intermediate in manufacture of resins and other chemicals. It is used in fire extinguishers and as a foam blowing agent. It is a solvent for degreasing electrical equipment, photographic films, magnetic tapes, precision intruments, and more; a dry cleaning solvent; and a refrigerant. Potential health impacts associated with Trichlorotrifluoroethane include cardiovascular or blood toxicity, neurotoxicity, and respiratory toxicity.

Sources of Trichlorotrifluoroethane:

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

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Trichlorotrifluoroethane tests reported by 2,970 public water suppliers in 6 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 1.7 million people in 12 communities drank water contaminated with Trichlorotrifluoroethane. Trichlorotrifluoroethane remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

1,651,697 People drinking water contaminated with Trichlorotrifluoroethane 12 Communities served water contaminated with Trichlorotrifluoroethane

Table. Trichlorotrifluoroethane Exposure by State

1.7 million Americans in 2 states were served tap water contaminated with Trichlorotrifluoroethane between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Trichlorotrifluoroethane contamination
	Systems	Population
California	11	1,640,599
Wisconsin	1	11,098
Total	12	1,651,697

Table. The most polluted communities

1.7 million Americans in 12 communities were served tap water contaminated with Trichlorotrifluoroethane between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Trichlorotrifluoroethane level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Rurban Homes Mutual Water Co. El Monte, CA	1,200	19 of 25	32.81 ppb (0 to 158 ppb)
2	San Gabriel Valley Water Company - El Mo El Monte, CA	157,829	9 of 47	2.94 ppb (0 to 22.3 ppb)
3	Chico Mobile Country Club Danville, CA	250	5 of 5	1.66 ppb (1 to 2.3 ppb)
4	Camrosa Water District Camarillo, CA	30,000	4 of 14	1.1 ppb (0 to 7.5 ppb)
5	Poplar Commission Service District Porterville, CA	1,901	1 of 5	0.46 ppb (0 to 2.3 ppb)
6	Great Oaks Wc, Inc. San Jose, CA	77,516	1 of 44	0.45 ppb (0 to 20 ppb)
7	East Quincy Services District Quincy, CA	2,742	1 of 4	0.17 ppb (0 to 0.68 ppb)
8	Valenzuela Water System Hollister, CA	55	1 of 2	0.15 ppb (0 to 0.3 ppb)
9	City of Modesto Water Modesto, CA	190,106	1 of 270	0.12 ppb (0 to 32 ppb)
10	Grafton Waterworks Grafton, WI	11,098	1 of 32	0.03 ppb (0 to 1 ppb)

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Health based limits for Trichlorotrifluoroethane

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
California Public Health Goals	4000 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.

Testing Summary for Trichlorotrifluoroethane

Water suppliers report an average of 1.2 Trichlorotrifluoroethane tests per year. 36,781 water suppliers failed to report any Trichlorotrifluoroethane tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Trichlorotrifluoroethane by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for Trichlorotrifluoroethane (1998-2003): 2,970 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 1.2 per year

Trichlorotrifluoroethane Violations

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