Pyrene
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, or PAH, released from combustion of fossil fuels and waste incinerators. PAHs increase the risk of cancer; damage the immune, nervous and reproductive systems; and can harm developing fetuses.
2017-2019:
4
states detected
11
utilities detected
177,000
people served
Health concerns for pyrene
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Harm to reproduction and child development
Change to the central nervous system
States reporting pyrene in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| New Jersey | 2 | 97,300 | |
| Rhode Island | 4 | 67,053 | |
| Arkansas | 4 | 11,877 | |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 373 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce pyrene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of pyrene, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory Ridge | Hickory Ridge, AR | 1 of 3 | 0.0433 ppb | 280 |
| Harris County MUD 53 | Houston, TX | 1 of 27 | 0.0211 ppb | 16,164 |
| Paron-Owensville Water | Paron, AR | 1 of 6 | 0.0150 ppb | 2,025 |
| North Brunswick W Department* | Somerset, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.0125 ppb | 41,000 |
| Mena Water* | Mena, AR | 1 of 14 | 0.0114 ppb | 7,784 |
| Acorn Rural Water | Not Submitted, AR | 1 of 14 | 0.0114 ppb | 1,975 |
| Freedom Water | Mena, AR | 1 of 14 | 0.0114 ppb | 1,838 |
| Leflore County Rural Water District #17 | Hodgen, OK | 1 of 14 | 0.0114 ppb | 373 |
| Naval Station, Newport | Newport, RI | 8 of 116 | 0.00948 ppb | 7,871 |
| City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 8 of 116 | 0.00948 ppb | 42,000 |
| Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 8 of 116 | 0.00948 ppb | 16,864 |
| United States Navy -fort Adams | Newport, RI | 8 of 116 | 0.00948 ppb | 318 |
| Rector Waterworks | Rector, AR | 1 of 14 | 0.00786 ppb | 1,977 |
| United Water Matchaponix* | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.00500 ppb | 0 |
| Suez Water Manalapan Millhurst | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.00500 ppb | 2,100 |
| Manalapan Township Water District Tracy Station | Manalapan, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.00500 ppb | 800 |
| NJ Water Supply Authority Manasquan* | Allenwood, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.00500 ppb | 30 |
* 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 Pyrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County MUD 53 | Houston, TX | 1 of 27 | 0.0211 ppb | 16,164 |
| North Brunswick W Department* | Somerset, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.0125 ppb | 41,000 |
| City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 8 of 116 | 0.00948 ppb | 42,000 |
| Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 8 of 116 | 0.00948 ppb | 16,864 |
* 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 Pyrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.