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

Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene are chemicals that leach from water distribution system tanks and pipes lined with coal tar or asphalt; pollutants from combustion of organic matter, including fossil fuel and wood; they also have research uses. Potential health impacts associated with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene include cancer.

Sources of Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene:

	Sprawl and Urban Areas (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste)
	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene tests reported by 484 public water suppliers in 3 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 4,244 people in 2 communities drank water contaminated with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

4,244 People drinking water contaminated with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene 2 Communities served water contaminated with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene

Table. Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene Exposure by State

4,244 Americans in 1 states were served tap water contaminated with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene contamination
	Systems	Population
Arkansas	2	4,244
Total	2	4,244

Table. The most polluted communities

4,244 Americans in 2 communities were served tap water contaminated with Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Holly Grove Waterworks Holly Grove, AR	2,281	1 of 3	0.07 ppb (0 to 0.2 ppb)
2	Elaine Waterworks Elaine, AR	1,963	1 of 3	0.05 ppb (0 to 0.15 ppb)

Testing Summary for Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene

Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene tests per year. 39,267 water suppliers failed to report any Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene (1998-2003): 484 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.7 per year

Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene Violations

Because Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene 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 Benzo[b]fluoranthene & Benzo[k]fluoranthene, and any level is legal in tap water.