Methoxychlor
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Methoxychlor is an endocrine-disrupting, neurotoxic insecticide similar to DDT. Banned in the U.S. in 2002, methoxychlor was historically used on farm animals and in animal feed, lumber, gardens and agricultural crops.
2017-2019:
10
states detected
26
utilities detected
346,000
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for methoxychlor
Hormone disruption
Harm to the reproductive system
Harm to the kidney
Harm to the liver
Harm to the immune system
Harm to the brain and nervous system
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.09 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.09 ppb for methoxychlor was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against hormone disruption.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 40 ppb
The legal limit for methoxychlor, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting methoxychlor in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Florida | 16 | 299,861 | |
| Indiana | 2 | 14,902 | |
| Connecticut | 1 | 9,507 | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 7,808 | |
| Illinois | 1 | 6,362 | |
| New York | 1 | 3,800 | |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1,800 | |
| Vermont | 1 | 760 | |
| Delaware | 1 | 445 | |
| Nebraska | 1 | 382 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce methoxychlor
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of methoxychlor, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Taneytown | Taneytown, MD | 1 of 10 | 0.0910 ppb | 6,750 |
| Southern Oaks Mobile Home Park | Lakeland, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.0420 ppb | 25 |
| Huntingburg Municipal Water | Huntingburg, IN | 1 of 18 | 0.0361 ppb | 6,100 |
| Florida Pines Mobile Home Park | Venice, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.0275 ppb | 280 |
| Loomis, Village of | Loomis, NE | 1 of 18 | 0.0258 ppb | 382 |
| St. Lucie Mobile Village | Indiantown, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.0250 ppb | 750 |
| Harris County Municipal Utility District 130 | Houston, TX | 1 of 9 | 0.0233 ppb | 4,302 |
| North Point Johnson Lake | Johnson Lake, NE | 1 of 8 | 0.0230 ppb | 25 |
| Dayspring Health Public Water System | Hilliard, FL | 1 of 10 | 0.0227 ppb | 64 |
| Cedar Village LLC | Rehoboth Beach, DE | 1 of 4 | 0.0203 ppb | 445 |
| Waverly Water System | Lake Wales, FL | 2 of 14 | 0.0162 ppb | 1,479 |
| McAllen Public Utility | Mcallen, TX | 1 of 13 | 0.0154 ppb | 173,388 |
| Lakeview Acres Lot Owners | Johnson Lake, NE | 1 of 28 | 0.0147 ppb | 60 |
| Greensburg Municipal Water Works* | Greensburg, IN | 1 of 23 | 0.0130 ppb | 12,000 |
| Decatur County Water Corporation | Greensburg, IN | 1 of 23 | 0.0130 ppb | 2,902 |
| Pine Ridge Estates | Lakeland, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.0129 ppb | 52 |
| Meadowbrook Manor LLC | Centerbrook, CT | 1 of 2 | 0.0110 ppb | 30 |
| Mulberry, City of | Mulberry, FL | 2 of 9 | 0.0107 ppb | 3,780 |
| City of Fort Meade | Fort Meade, FL | 1 of 5 | 0.01000 ppb | 5,455 |
| Rolling Acres S/d | Cary, NC | 1 of 20 | 0.00875 ppb | 58 |
| Bethel Water Department | Bethel, CT | 1 of 27 | 0.00815 ppb | 9,507 |
| Pinckneyville | Pinckneyville, IL | 1 of 14 | 0.00786 ppb | 6,362 |
| Fern Crest Utilities Inc. | Ft Lauderdale, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.00686 ppb | 3,123 |
| Sunrise Southwest | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1 of 5 | 0.00680 ppb | 9,457 |
| Mcfarland Waterworks | Mc Farland, WI | 1 of 3 | 0.00667 ppb | 7,808 |
| Suez Water New Jersey Lambertville | Toms River, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.00500 ppb | 3,960 |
| Amawalk-shenorock Water District | Somers, NY | 1 of 21 | 0.00476 ppb | 3,800 |
| South Hero Fire District 4 | South Hero, VT | 1 of 22 | 0.00455 ppb | 760 |
| Town of Fort Myers Beach (beach Water) | Fort Myers Beach, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 6,900 |
| Gateway Services District | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 12,717 |
| Old Bridge Village Mobile Home Park | North Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 1,000 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 251,502 |
| Pine Lakes Mobile Home Park | N. Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 1,220 |
| Tamiami Village Mobile Home Park | N. Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 1,200 |
| Mobile Manor Mobile Home Park | N. Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 482 |
| Okla Christian University | Edmond, OK | 1 of 3 | 0.00333 ppb | 1,800 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 16 | 0.00306 ppb | 127,700 |
| Frostproof, City of | Frostproof, FL | 2 of 12 | 0.00113 ppb | 3,550 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Methoxychlor, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen Public Utility | Mcallen, TX | 1 of 13 | 0.0154 ppb | 173,388 |
| Greensburg Municipal Water Works* | Greensburg, IN | 1 of 23 | 0.0130 ppb | 12,000 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 251,502 |
| Gateway Services District | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 25 | 0.00351 ppb | 12,717 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 16 | 0.00306 ppb | 127,700 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Methoxychlor, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.