Benzo[a]pyrene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Benzo[a]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.
2015-2017:
23
states detected
160
utilities detected
3.4 million
people served
18
states over health guideline
86
utilities over health guideline
611,000
people served over health guideline
1
states over legal limit
3
utilities over legal limit
1,794
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for benzo[a]pyrene
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Harm to reproduction and child development
Change to the central nervous system
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.007 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.007 ppb for benzo[a]pyrene 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) 0.2 ppb
The legal limit for benzo[a]pyrene, established in 1992, 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 PAH exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting benzo[a]pyrene in drinking water
UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
Indiana | 0 | 0 | 6 | 831,490 | |||
Louisiana | 10 | 31,678 | 16 | 762,028 | |||
Arkansas | 2 | 7,207 | 14 | 351,471 | |||
Arizona | 0 | 0 | 3 | 297,396 | |||
North Carolina | 7 | 183,032 | 17 | 230,595 | |||
Kentucky | 8 | 57,422 | 18 | 207,060 | |||
Florida | 4 | 11,163 | 10 | 158,092 | |||
Pennsylvania | 23 | 141,445 | 25 | 148,244 | |||
California | 0 | 0 | 10 | 136,463 | |||
Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 3 | 98,946 | |||
Rhode Island | 4 | 67,053 | 4 | 67,053 | |||
Illinois | 4 | 37,451 | 5 | 50,160 | |||
New York | 5 | 35,120 | 7 | 40,998 | |||
Texas | 4 | 24,138 | 5 | 28,531 | |||
Nevada | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5,700 | |||
Alabama | 1 | 4,170 | 1 | 4,170 | |||
Hawaii | 1 | 3,400 | 1 | 3,400 | |||
Wisconsin | 3 | 2,593 | 3 | 2,593 | |||
Ohio | 2 | 2,288 | 2 | 2,288 | |||
Vermont | 3 | 1,794 | 3 | 1,794 | |||
Oregon | 3 | 1,039 | 3 | 1,039 | |||
Idaho | 1 | 390 | 1 | 390 | |||
Nebraska | 1 | 60 | 1 | 60 |
Filtering technologies that reduce benzo[a]pyrene

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of benzo[a]pyrene, 2015-2017
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Derby Center Water System* | Derby, VT | 1 of 2 | 0.300 ppb | 1,400 |
Shattuck Hill Mobile Home Park | Lyndonville, VT | 1 of 2 | 0.300 ppb | 129 |
Derby Mobile Home Park | Montpelier, VT | 1 of 2 | 0.300 ppb | 265 |
Pine Grove Estates Water System | Cypress, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.120 ppb | 240 |
Grampian Borough Penn Township Ma | Grampian, PA | 1 of 2 | 0.110 ppb | 1,400 |
Pike Township Municipal Authority* | Curwensville, PA | 1 of 2 | 0.110 ppb | 4,500 |
Highridge Water Authority | Blairsville, PA | 1 of 6 | 0.0933 ppb | 12,000 |
Lakeview Acres Lot Owners | Johnson Lake, NE | 1 of 13 | 0.0735 ppb | 60 |
Ponderosa Pines Water Company | La Pine, OR | 1 of 2 | 0.0500 ppb | 874 |
Powhatan Point Public Water System* | Powhatan Point, OH | 1 of 4 | 0.0500 ppb | 1,807 |
York Township Water Authority Public Water System | Powhatan Point, OH | 1 of 4 | 0.0500 ppb | 481 |
Camden Water and Sewer Department* | Camden, AL | 1 of 6 | 0.0500 ppb | 4,170 |
Kreamer Municipal Authority | Kreamer, PA | 1 of 4 | 0.0450 ppb | 980 |
Municipal Authority of Washington Township | Belle Vernon, PA | 1 of 3 | 0.0433 ppb | 9,100 |
Bee's Rv Resort | Clermont, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.0400 ppb | 158 |
Desales University | Center Valley, PA | 1 of 4 | 0.0375 ppb | 2,000 |
Borough of Conway | Conway, PA | 1 of 3 | 0.0367 ppb | 2,290 |
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority* | Beaver Falls, PA | 1 of 3 | 0.0367 ppb | 50,000 |
Zelienople Borough | Zelienople, PA | 1 of 3 | 0.0367 ppb | 4,123 |
Frostproof, City of | Frostproof, FL | 2 of 6 | 0.0320 ppb | 3,550 |
Danville Municipal Water Authority* | Danville, PA | 2 of 2 | 0.0310 ppb | 4,897 |
Valley Township Municipal Authority | Danville, PA | 2 of 2 | 0.0310 ppb | 95 |
Mahoning Township Municipal Authority | Danville, PA | 2 of 2 | 0.0310 ppb | 1,507 |
Blocker Crossroads Water Supply Corporation | Marshall, TX | 1 of 6 | 0.0300 ppb | 1,602 |
Borough of Atglen | Atglen, PA | 1 of 5 | 0.0300 ppb | 1,200 |
East Hempfield Water Authority | Landisville, PA | 2 of 16 | 0.0300 ppb | 16,761 |
Dixon Correctional Institute | Jackson, LA | 2 of 2 | 0.0290 ppb | 1,700 |
Leitchfield Water Works* | Leitchfield, KY | 1 of 2 | 0.0280 ppb | 8,438 |
Harris County MUD 53 | Houston, TX | 1 of 15 | 0.0267 ppb | 16,164 |
Versailles Water System* | Versailles, KY | 1 of 2 | 0.0235 ppb | 17,822 |
So Woodford County Water District | Versailles, KY | 1 of 2 | 0.0235 ppb | 4,218 |
Ne Woodford County Water District | Versailles, KY | 1 of 2 | 0.0235 ppb | 2,644 |
Golden Hill Water District | Kingston, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0233 ppb | 1,600 |
Spring Lake Water District | Lake Katrine, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0233 ppb | 270 |
East Kingston Water District | Lake Katrine, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0233 ppb | 480 |
Kingston Water District* | Kingston, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0233 ppb | 32,310 |
Hillside Acres Water Company | Hurley, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0233 ppb | 460 |
Northern Cambria Municipal Water | Northern Cambria, PA | 1 of 7 | 0.0229 ppb | 4,500 |
Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 7 of 55 | 0.0218 ppb | 16,864 |
Naval Station, Newport | Newport, RI | 7 of 55 | 0.0218 ppb | 7,871 |
United States Navy (fort Adams) | Newport, RI | 7 of 55 | 0.0218 ppb | 318 |
City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 7 of 55 | 0.0218 ppb | 42,000 |
Dequeen Water Work | Dequeen, AR | 1 of 2 | 0.0200 ppb | 6,594 |
Kuttawa Water Department* | Kuttawa, KY | 1 of 1 | 0.0200 ppb | 1,143 |
Midway Water System | Sarepta, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.0190 ppb | 450 |
Coal City* | Coal City, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.0187 ppb | 4,797 |
Carbon Hill | Coal City, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.0187 ppb | 392 |
Cove City, Town of | Cove City, NC | 1 of 23 | 0.0178 ppb | 440 |
Craven County Water System* | New Bern, NC | 1 of 23 | 0.0178 ppb | 31,000 |
Rocky Branch Water System | Farmerville, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.0178 ppb | 1,410 |
* 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 Benzo[a]pyrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Highridge Water Authority | Blairsville, PA | 1 of 6 | 0.0933 ppb | 12,000 |
Beaver Falls Municipal Authority* | Beaver Falls, PA | 1 of 3 | 0.0367 ppb | 50,000 |
East Hempfield Water Authority | Landisville, PA | 2 of 16 | 0.0300 ppb | 16,761 |
Harris County MUD 53 | Houston, TX | 1 of 15 | 0.0267 ppb | 16,164 |
Versailles Water System* | Versailles, KY | 1 of 2 | 0.0235 ppb | 17,822 |
Kingston Water District* | Kingston, NY | 1 of 3 | 0.0233 ppb | 32,310 |
City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 7 of 55 | 0.0218 ppb | 42,000 |
Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 7 of 55 | 0.0218 ppb | 16,864 |
Craven County Water System* | New Bern, NC | 1 of 23 | 0.0178 ppb | 31,000 |
Princeton Water & Sewer Commission* | Princeton, KY | 1 of 2 | 0.0150 ppb | 10,413 |
West Feliciana Consol Wwks District 13 | St. Francisville, LA | 4 of 8 | 0.0135 ppb | 10,956 |
Orange Water & Sewer Authority | Carrboro, NC | 1 of 2 | 0.01000 ppb | 83,300 |
St Charles* | St Charles, IL | 1 of 18 | 0.00817 ppb | 32,190 |
Robeson County Water System* | Maxton, NC | 1 of 37 | 0.00811 ppb | 67,419 |
Warrenville | Warrenville, IL | 1 of 16 | 0.00650 ppb | 12,709 |
West Jefferson Waterworks District 2* | Jefferson, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.00600 ppb | 188,770 |
Central Arkansas Water* | Little Rock, AR | 1 of 12 | 0.00500 ppb | 313,504 |
Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission* | Shelbyville, KY | 1 of 6 | 0.00333 ppb | 23,760 |
Eubank Water System* | Eubank, KY | 1 of 10 | 0.00280 ppb | 12,492 |
Somerset Water Service* | Somerset, KY | 1 of 10 | 0.00280 ppb | 29,700 |
Southeastern Water Assoc/Nelson Valley* | Somerset, KY | 1 of 10 | 0.00280 ppb | 21,895 |
Kingman Municipal Water | Kingman, AZ | 2 of 30 | 0.00217 ppb | 45,000 |
Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 6 | 0.00200 ppb | 128,729 |
Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System* | Clinton, CT | 1 of 40 | 0.00158 ppb | 98,390 |
North Lenoir Water Corp | Kinston, NC | 1 of 28 | 0.00143 ppb | 14,669 |
Bayleaf Master | Raleigh, NC | 1 of 212 | 0.00109 ppb | 16,500 |
City of Chandler | Chandler, AZ | 1 of 97 | 0.000206 ppb | 247,328 |
Baton Rouge Water Company* | Baton Rouge, LA | 2 of 228 | 0.000175 ppb | 527,067 |
Citizens Water - Indianapolis* | Indianapolis, IN | 1 of 380 | 0.000105 ppb | 814,338 |
* 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 Benzo[a]pyrene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.