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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Haloacetic acids (HAA9)

Crofton-Odenton

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of nine haloacetic acids includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid, which are regulated as a group by the federal government (HAA5); and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid. Read More.

Haloacetic acids are harmful during pregnancy and may increase the risk of cancer. Haloacetic acids are genotoxic, which means that they induce mutations and DNA damage. Multiple studies by the National Toxicology Program have demonstrated the cancer-causing properties of individual haloacetic acids in laboratory animals. The Department of Health and Human Services is currently considering listing di- or tri-haloacetic acids for possible inclusion in its comprehensive Report on Carcinogens

 

7

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

7

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
20180.818 ppb770.251 ppb - 1.86 ppb
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for the group of nine haloacetic acids, or HAA9, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level as . This health guideline protects against cancer.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-03-14U8C0006-020.696 ppb
2018-03-14U8C0006-030.271 ppb
2018-03-14U8C0006-041.05 ppb
2018-09-19U8I0007-050.251 ppb
2018-09-19U8I0007-020.828 ppb
2018-09-19U8I0007-030.769 ppb
2018-09-19U8I0007-041.86 ppb