Monobromoacetic acid
Worcester Department of Public Works
Monobromoacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015 | 0.272 ppb | 32 | 9 | ND - 2.80 ppb |
| 2016 | ND | 32 | 0 | ND |
| 2017 | 0.505 ppb | 32 | 16 | ND - 2.00 ppb |
| 2018 | ND | 6 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 25 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 25 ppb for monobromoacetic acid was proposed in 2020 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 muscular degeneration.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-20 | 2.80 ppb |
| 2015-02-20 | ND |
| 2015-02-20 | ND |
| 2015-02-20 | 0.600 ppb |
| 2015-02-20 | 0.600 ppb |
| 2015-02-20 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2015-02-20 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2015-02-20 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-08-21 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2015-08-21 | ND |
| 2015-11-20 | ND |
| 2015-11-20 | ND |
| 2015-11-20 | ND |
| 2015-11-20 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2015-11-20 | ND |
| 2015-11-20 | ND |
| 2015-11-20 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2015-11-20 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-02-19 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-05-20 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-08-19 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-18 | ND |
| 2016-11-22 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-02-17 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | 0.570 ppb |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | ND |
| 2017-08-16 | ND |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.700 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 0.800 ppb |
| 2017-08-16 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 0.890 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 0.590 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2017-11-17 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2018-02-16 | ND |
| 2018-02-16 | ND |
| 2018-02-16 | ND |
| 2018-02-16 | ND |
| 2018-02-16 | ND |
| 2018-02-16 | ND |