Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Hexachlorobenzene is a cancer-causing, neurotoxic and hormone-disrupting chemical used as a pesticide until 1984. It is still found in landfills and hazardous waste sites, and can be detected in people.
2015:
1
states detected
8
utilities detected
65,994
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 hexachlorobenzene
Cancer
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Hormone disruption
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 0.03 ppb
The health guideline of 0.03 ppb for hexachlorobenzene 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) 1 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 hexachlorobenzene in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Colorado | 8 | 65,994 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of hexachlorobenzene, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peetz, Town of | Peetz, CO | 1 of 1 | 0.0130 ppb | 295 |
| Town of Breckenridge | Breckenridge, CO | 1 of 1 | 0.00970 ppb | 36,258 |
| Redstone Water & Sanitation District | Snowmass, CO | 1 of 1 | 0.00610 ppb | 180 |
| Yuma, City of | Yuma, CO | 2 of 4 | 0.00343 ppb | 4,049 |
| Town of Estes Park* | Estes Park, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.00245 ppb | 16,022 |
| Mountain Village, Town of | Telluride, CO | 1 of 6 | 0.000867 ppb | 8,700 |
* 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 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Breckenridge | Breckenridge, CO | 1 of 1 | 0.00970 ppb | 36,258 |
| Town of Estes Park* | Estes Park, CO | 1 of 4 | 0.00245 ppb | 16,022 |
* 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 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.