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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. n-Propylbenzene is a solvent, used in textile dyeing and printing; a pollutant from asphalt and landfill leachate; and a constituent of petroleum and coal. Potential health impacts associated with n-Propylbenzene include neurotoxicity. Sources of n-Propylbenzene:  | Sprawl and Urban Areas (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) |  | Industry |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of n-Propylbenzene tests reported by 22,073 public water suppliers in 34 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 83 thousand people in 28 communities drank water contaminated with n-Propylbenzene. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.n-Propylbenzene remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit. Exposure Summary 82,657 | People drinking water contaminated with n-Propylbenzene | 28 | Communities served water contaminated with n-Propylbenzene |
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Table. n-Propylbenzene Exposure by State83 thousand Americans in 13 states were served tap water contaminated with n-Propylbenzene between 1998 and 2003. | State | Water suppliers with n-Propylbenzene contamination |
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| Systems | Population |
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| Nebraska | 1 | 24,000 | | Wisconsin | 1 | 14,196 | | North Carolina | 5 | 12,512 | | Utah | 1 | 6,500 | | South Carolina | 2 | 6,189 | | Washington | 2 | 5,200 | | New Mexico | 2 | 4,980 | | New Jersey | 2 | 3,882 | | Nevada | 2 | 2,762 | | Alaska | 5 | 1,283 | | Arkansas | 3 | 578 | | California | 1 | 500 | | New Hampshire | 1 | 75 | | Total | 28 | 82,657 |
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Table. The most polluted communities83,000 Americans in 28 communities were served tap water contaminated with n-Propylbenzene between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average n-Propylbenzene level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
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| 1 | Jordanelle Ssd
Heber, UT | 6,500 | 1 of 4 | 1.6 ppb
(0 to 6.4 ppb) | | 2 | Pitkas Point Water System
Pitkas Point, AK | 158 | 1 of 7 | 1.11 ppb
(0 to 7.76 ppb) | | 3 | Meadow Brook
Epsom, NH | 75 | 1 of 1 | 0.64 ppb
(0.64 to 0.64 ppb) | | 4 | Dellinger's Mhp
Gastonia, NC | 69 | 1 of 2 | 0.55 ppb
(0 to 1.1 ppb) | | 5 | Rosepeak Water System
Dayton, NV | 2,735 | 1 of 6 | 0.36 ppb
(0 to 2.17 ppb) | | 6 | Lakewood Campground
Myrtle Beach, SC | 4,555 | 1 of 5 | 0.28 ppb
(0 to 1.4 ppb) | | 7 | Moab Irrigation District #20
Newman Lake, WA | 1,700 | 1 of 2 | 0.25 ppb
(0 to 0.5 ppb) | | 8 | City of White Salmon Water
White Salmon, WA | 3,500 | 1 of 3 | 0.23 ppb
(0 to 0.7 ppb) | | 9 | Cash Rural Water Company
SC | 1,634 | 1 of 5 | 0.14 ppb
(0 to 0.7 ppb) | | 10 | Devils Gate Gid District 1
Eureka, NV | 27 | 1 of 7 | 0.09 ppb
(0 to 0.6 ppb) |
Next --> Testing Summary for n-Propylbenzene Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 n-Propylbenzene tests per year. 17,678 water suppliers failed to report
any n-Propylbenzene tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for n-Propylbenzene by federal law? | No | | Water suppliers reporting tests for n-Propylbenzene (1998-2003): | 22,073 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 0.7 per year |
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n-Propylbenzene Violations Because n-Propylbenzene 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 n-Propylbenzene, and any level is legal in tap water.
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