EWG Investigation | U.S. Tap Water Quality Database

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EWG INVESTIGATION

Findings

About The Data

News Release

EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

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

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane is a used for metal degreasing and in the manufacture of paint, cement, paint removers, and moth-proofing products. Potential health impacts associated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane include cancer, developmental toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, neurotoxicity, and respiratory toxicity.

Sources of 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane:
Industry Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane tests reported by 25,443 public water suppliers in 37 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 29 thousand people in 8 communities drank water contaminated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane. In 7 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds. 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

29,090
People drinking water contaminated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
8
Communities served water contaminated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
29,055
People drinking water contaminated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane over health based limits
7
Communities served water with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane above health based limits

Table. 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane Exposure by State

29 thousand Americans in 5 states were served tap water contaminated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State Water suppliers with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane contamination Water suppliers reporting 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane above health-based limits
Systems Population Systems Population
Florida 1 25,158 1 25,158
Washington 1 1,700 1 1,700
Alaska 1 1,020 1 1,020
Iowa 1 900 1 900
North Carolina 3 277 3 277
New Jersey 1 35 0 0
Total 8 29,090 7 29,055

Table. The most polluted communities

29,000 Americans in 7 communities were served tap water contaminated with 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane level

Rank System Population Served Positive test results of total reported tests Average Level
(Range)
1 Graettinger Municipal Water Supply
Graettinger, IA 900 1 of 1 0.9 ppb
(0.9 to 0.9 ppb)
2 Bartlett Cove Water Sys
Anchorage, AK 1,020 1 of 3 0.51 ppb
(0 to 1.52 ppb)
3 Cabarrus Acres Water System
Denver, NC 58 1 of 2 0.3 ppb
(0 to 0.6 ppb)
4 Pineview S / D
Greensboro, NC 56 1 of 7 0.27 ppb
(0 to 1.9 ppb)
5 City of Leesburg Water
Leesburg, FL 25,158 1 of 2 0.25 ppb
(0 to 0.5 ppb)
6 Moab Irrigation District #20
Newman Lake, WA 1,700 1 of 2 0.25 ppb
(0 to 0.5 ppb)
7 Oxford Park Water System
Denver, NC 163 1 of 6 0.13 ppb
(0 to 0.8 ppb)

Health based limits for 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

Health Limit Limit Value Limit Description
One in ten thousand (10-4) Cancer Risk 20 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 0.1 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 0.17 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 40 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 40 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 0.3 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 2 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 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

Water suppliers report an average of 0.6 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane tests per year. 14,308 water suppliers failed to report any 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane by federal law? No
Water suppliers reporting tests for 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (1998-2003): 25,443 of 39,751
Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.6 per year

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane Violations

Because 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 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 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, and any level is legal in tap water.