Picloram
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Picloram is a herbicide that in studies of laboratory animals has been linked with reduced testicular size and damage to the liver and thyroid.
2015:
12
states detected
37
utilities detected
228,000
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 picloram
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
Change to the reproductive system
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 166 ppb
The health guideline of 166 ppb for picloram 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 change to internal organs.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 500 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)500 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 picloram in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Texas | 9 | 160,490 | |
| Oklahoma | 8 | 26,620 | |
| Arkansas | 5 | 13,448 | |
| Alabama | 1 | 9,828 | |
| Nevada | 2 | 5,700 | |
| Washington | 1 | 5,150 | |
| Colorado | 3 | 2,468 | |
| Idaho | 3 | 1,595 | |
| Iowa | 2 | 1,360 | |
| Louisiana | 1 | 1,248 | |
| North Carolina | 1 | 61 | |
| Florida | 1 | 42 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of picloram, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haxtun, Town of | Haxtun, CO | 5 of 7 | 17.3 ppb | 952 |
| Sunset Bay S/d | Mooresville, NC | 3 of 3 | 1.06 ppb | 61 |
| Oto Water Supply | Oto, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.800 ppb | 108 |
| Red Rock Incorporated | Moscow, ID | 1 of 1 | 0.628 ppb | 60 |
| Villisca Municipal Water Department | Villisca, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 1,252 |
| Juliaetta, City of | Juliaetta, ID | 1 of 1 | 0.475 ppb | 579 |
| Ely Municipal Water Department* | Ely, NV | 3 of 3 | 0.373 ppb | 5,000 |
| Edgewood Mobile Home Park | Ocala, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.250 ppb | 42 |
| Beauregard Water Authority | Opelika, AL | 1 of 1 | 0.209 ppb | 9,828 |
| Booneville Waterworks* | Booneville, AR | 3 of 4 | 0.195 ppb | 5,892 |
| Genesee, City of | Genesee, ID | 1 of 1 | 0.130 ppb | 956 |
| Connell, City of | Connell, WA | 2 of 2 | 0.105 ppb | 5,150 |
| Eagles Watch Homeowners Association | Walden, CO | 1 of 1 | 0.1000 ppb | 65 |
| Bluebonnet Water Supply Corporation* | Temple, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.1000 ppb | 0 |
| Springfield, Town of | Springfield, CO | 1 of 3 | 0.0667 ppb | 1,451 |
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 2 | 0.0400 ppb | 17,783 |
| City of Gustine | Gustine, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0333 ppb | 442 |
| Turkey Creek Water System* | Gilbert, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.0243 ppb | 1,248 |
* 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 Picloram, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAlester PWA* | Mcalester, OK | 1 of 2 | 0.0400 ppb | 17,783 |
* 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 Picloram, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.