Toxaphene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Toxaphene is a neurotoxic, persistent and bioaccumulative insecticide classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.
2015-2017:
4
states detected
14
utilities detected
2.0 million
people served
3
states over health guideline
8
utilities over health guideline
156,000
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
EWG Health Guideline 0.03 ppb
The EWG 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.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 3 ppb
The legal limit for toxaphene, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to toxaphene exposure.
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 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1,847,761 | |||
| Florida | 6 | 155,614 | 6 | 155,614 | |||
| New York | 1 | 156 | 1 | 156 | |||
| North Carolina | 1 | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce toxaphene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of toxaphene, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanfords Creek Subdivision | Colfax, NC | 1 of 5 | 1.02 ppb | 30 |
| Hunt Farm Water Company | Waccabuc, NY | 1 of 2 | 0.500 ppb | 156 |
| Fern Crest Utilities Inc. | Ft Lauderdale, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.285 ppb | 4,643 |
| City of Fort Meade | Fort Meade, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 5,455 |
| Mulberry, City of | Mulberry, FL | 2 of 5 | 0.228 ppb | 3,780 |
| South Broward Utility/sunrise | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.113 ppb | 9,457 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.0967 ppb | 128,729 |
| Frostproof, City of | Frostproof, FL | 2 of 6 | 0.0400 ppb | 3,550 |
| Apostolic Towers | Baltimore, MD | 1 of 20 | 0.00645 ppb | 200 |
| The Neighborhoods At St. Elizabeth | Baltimore, MD | 1 of 20 | 0.00645 ppb | 162 |
| Keswick Multi-care Center | Baltimore, MD | 1 of 20 | 0.00645 ppb | 147 |
| City of Baltimore* | Baltimore, MD | 1 of 20 | 0.00645 ppb | 1,600,000 |
* 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 Toxaphene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.0967 ppb | 128,729 |
| City of Baltimore* | Baltimore, MD | 1 of 20 | 0.00645 ppb | 1,600,000 |
* 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 Toxaphene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.