Toxaphene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Toxaphene is a neurotoxic, persistent and bioaccumulative insecticide classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.
2015:
1
states detected
1
utilities detected
30
people served
1
states over health guideline
1
utilities over health guideline
30
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for toxaphene
Cancer
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
Hormone disruption
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 0.03 ppb
The health guideline of 0.03 ppb for toxaphene 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 cancer.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 3 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)0 ppb
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting toxaphene in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| North Carolina | 1 | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of toxaphene, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanfords Creek Subdivision | Colfax, NC | 1 of 3 | 1.70 ppb | 30 |
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|