Toluene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Toluene is a volatile solvent that harms the nervous and immune systems, damages the liver and may increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Read More.
Toluene is a petroleum-derived chemical found in gasoline and used as a solvent in paints, adhesives and cleaning supplies. Toluene is highly neurotoxic. Exposure can cause fatigue and nausea, and may lead to nervous system disorders.
2015:
36
states detected
271
utilities detected
2.0 million
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 toluene
Harm to the brain and nervous system
Harm to the liver
Harm to the immune system
Harm to the reproductive system
Harm to fetal growth and development
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 150 ppb
The health guideline of 150 ppb for toluene 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 harm to internal organs.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1,000 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)1,000 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 toluene in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Texas | 68 | 433,830 | |
| New York | 9 | 367,232 | |
| Wisconsin | 26 | 316,646 | |
| Virginia | 9 | 158,215 | |
| Arizona | 5 | 156,302 | |
| Utah | 10 | 111,836 | |
| New Jersey | 13 | 107,452 | |
| Tennessee | 1 | 92,506 | |
| Iowa | 8 | 42,512 | |
| Colorado | 7 | 38,540 | |
| North Carolina | 12 | 22,276 | |
| Massachusetts | 5 | 21,773 | |
| Ohio | 3 | 17,458 | |
| Georgia | 4 | 14,346 | |
| Louisiana | 5 | 9,596 | |
| Alaska | 7 | 8,281 | |
| Idaho | 5 | 8,233 | |
| California | 12 | 6,929 | |
| Minnesota | 5 | 6,453 | |
| Vermont | 4 | 5,940 | |
| Florida | 8 | 5,884 | |
| Nevada | 2 | 4,400 | |
| New Mexico | 7 | 4,112 | |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 3,785 | |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 3,307 | |
| Kansas | 4 | 3,061 | |
| West Virginia | 1 | 2,680 | |
| Indiana | 1 | 2,349 | |
| Illinois | 1 | 1,067 | |
| Washington | 3 | 968 | |
| Missouri | 4 | 858 | |
| Delaware | 1 | 420 | |
| Maine | 4 | 313 | |
| Connecticut | 1 | 285 | |
| Oregon | 1 | 275 | |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 245 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of toluene, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Water Works | Sanford, NC | 3 of 3 | 23.7 ppb | 137 |
| Menomonee Falls WW - Groundwater | Menomonee Falls, WI | 2 of 4 | 18.2 ppb | 1,796 |
| Weems | Rockville, VA | 1 of 2 | 13.8 ppb | 653 |
| Wells St. Station 425 West | Brookfield, WI | 2 of 2 | 12.8 ppb | 25 |
| Goshen Water District #2 (arcadia Hills) | Goshen, NY | 2 of 6 | 11.1 ppb | 822 |
| Inchelium Water District | Inchelium, WA | 1 of 1 | 10.2 ppb | 540 |
| Brandt Point | Sequim, WA | 2 of 5 | 9.54 ppb | 26 |
| East Thetford Water Company | E Thetford, VT | 1 of 2 | 9.50 ppb | 250 |
| Happy Trails Mobile Home Park | Auburn, ME | 1 of 2 | 9.50 ppb | 33 |
| Faith School of Theology | Charleston, ME | 1 of 1 | 9.10 ppb | 110 |
| Laurel Lakes 508 | Thiensville, WI | 1 of 4 | 8.50 ppb | 50 |
| Lakeview Hills Water Supply Corporation | Lago Vista, TX | 1 of 1 | 8.30 ppb | 93 |
| Lewis Estates Subdivision | Thomasville, GA | 1 of 2 | 8.00 ppb | 101 |
| Fairview Road Water System | Hollister, CA | 2 of 2 | 7.80 ppb | 40 |
| Gap View Community Mobile Home Park | Secaucus, PA | 1 of 1 | 7.60 ppb | 50 |
| Upham Farms Condominiums | Charlton, MA | 2 of 3 | 7.00 ppb | 90 |
| White Oak Village | Garner, NC | 1 of 3 | 7.00 ppb | 104 |
| Heron Pond At Stockbridge | Stockbridge, MA | 1 of 3 | 7.00 ppb | 25 |
| Gunnison City* | Gunnison, UT | 1 of 1 | 6.90 ppb | 3,124 |
| Hilltop Lakes Water Supply Corporation | Hilltop Lakes, TX | 1 of 3 | 6.67 ppb | 1,878 |
| Country Crest Mobile Home Park | Dillsburg, PA | 1 of 2 | 5.50 ppb | 150 |
| Big Island Water Company | Roach, MO | 1 of 1 | 5.48 ppb | 175 |
| Eitzen | Eitzen, MN | 1 of 3 | 5.33 ppb | 237 |
| Hart Flat Bear Mutual Water | Keene, CA | 1 of 3 | 5.00 ppb | 43 |
| Glen Gardner Water Department | Glen Gardner, NJ | 1 of 2 | 4.93 ppb | 1,902 |
| The Harbor | Wichita, KS | 1 of 3 | 4.67 ppb | 35 |
| Old Farms Condominium Association Inc. | New Milford, CT | 1 of 2 | 4.65 ppb | 285 |
| Earlysville Forest | Palmyra, VA | 1 of 2 | 4.46 ppb | 488 |
| Neuse Colony S/d Section B | Clayton, NC | 3 of 8 | 3.50 ppb | 195 |
| Mountain Water Company | Warren, VT | 1 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 2,400 |
* 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 Toluene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Virginia Water Authority* | Roanoke, VA | 3 of 14 | 1.02 ppb | 155,000 |
| Savannah-Georgetown/Gateway | Port Wenworth, GA | 5 of 8 | 0.948 ppb | 13,504 |
| North Reading Water Department | North Reading, MA | 1 of 1 | 0.820 ppb | 15,200 |
| Jackson Water System | Jackson, TN | 12 of 126 | 0.745 ppb | 92,506 |
| Harris County MUD 165* | Houston, TX | 2 of 7 | 0.700 ppb | 17,763 |
| Madison Water Department | Madison, NJ | 2 of 56 | 0.699 ppb | 15,820 |
| Grand Junction* | Grand Junction, CO | 1 of 1 | 0.520 ppb | 26,000 |
| Langham Creek Utility District* | Houston, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.500 ppb | 10,377 |
| Burlington Municipal Waterworks* | Burlington, IA | 1 of 4 | 0.343 ppb | 25,619 |
| Shorewood Waterworks | Shorewood, WI | 3 of 3 | 0.297 ppb | 13,189 |
| Elmira Water Board* | Elmira, NY | 2 of 19 | 0.292 ppb | 66,529 |
| Ogden City Water System* | Pleasant View, UT | 1 of 3 | 0.200 ppb | 77,000 |
| City of Peoria* | Peoria, AZ | 3 of 15 | 0.173 ppb | 124,500 |
| Pinery Wwd | Parker, CO | 1 of 7 | 0.171 ppb | 10,800 |
| City of Apache Junction | Apache Junction, AZ | 1 of 4 | 0.150 ppb | 13,657 |
| Grand Chute Tn San District 1 | Grand Chute, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.130 ppb | 21,583 |
| City of Houston Utility District 5 - Kingwood* | Houston, TX | 1 of 6 | 0.117 ppb | 78,078 |
| City of League City* | League City, TX | 1 of 9 | 0.0667 ppb | 96,209 |
| Monroe Waterworks | Monroe, WI | 1 of 2 | 0.0650 ppb | 10,780 |
| Pennsville Twsp. Water Depart. | Pennsville, NJ | 9 of 12 | 0.0642 ppb | 13,500 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 2 of 37 | 0.0284 ppb | 235,000 |
| New Philadelphia City PWS | New Philadelphia, OH | 1 of 24 | 0.0246 ppb | 17,288 |
| Margate City Water Department | Margate, NJ | 1 of 4 | 0.0175 ppb | 25,545 |
| Bayleaf Master | Raleigh, NC | 1 of 46 | 0.0122 ppb | 16,500 |
| Whitewater Waterworks | Whitewater, WI | 1 of 20 | 0.0115 ppb | 14,000 |
| United Water New York* | New Rochelle, NY | 1 of 156 | 0.00385 ppb | 270,950 |
| Monroe Twp MUA | Williamstown, NJ | 3 of 103 | 0.00165 ppb | 36,100 |
* 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 Toluene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.