TECHNICAL REPORT Survey off Community Woter Supplies for the Occurrence of 2,4,5-T and Related Herbicides ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Water Programs Division of Water Hygiene ------- 16579 TECHN I CAL REPORT Survey of Community Water Supplies for the Occurrence of 2,4,5-T and Related Herbicides Richard J. Hammerstrom Frederick C. Kopfler Alan A. Stevens Eric A. Robertson3 Jr. GULF COAST WATER HYGIENE LABORATORY Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Water Programs Division of Water Hygiene Washington, D.C. 20242 1971 ------- Organization and Name Changes On December 2, 1970 the Bureau of Water Hygiene of the U.S. Public Health Service was transferred to the newly established Environmental Protection Agency and became the Division of Water Hygiene of the Office of Water Quality. However, since the survey of community water supplies for the occurrence of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides on which this report is based was accomplished prior to the above date, the former names of the Bureau of Water Hygiene and its organizational components in the Public Health Service appear throughout this report. Disclaimer Clause Reference in this report to commercial products does not constitute endorsement by the Environmental Protection Agency. ^^ ------- CONTENTS Page Summary and Conclusions 1 Introduction 3 Field Activities and Sampling Procedures 6 Laboratory Procedures 12 Results and Analysis of Data 14 Acknowledgments 25 Bibliography and Notes 27 Appendix 29 ------- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS For a number of reasons, questions have been raised recently as to whether the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) is getting into drinking water supplies where it may constitute a potential hazard to those who consume the water. The report on 2,4,5-T of the Panel on Herbicides of the President's Science Advisory Committee focused attention relative to the occurrence of this herbicide in drinking water supplies. In response to a request of the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service in August 1970, the Bureau of Water Hygiene, in cooperation with State health departments and other concerned groups, conducted a survey of 58 community water supplies to determine the occurrence and levels of concentration of 2,4,5-T and related chlorophenoxy acid compounds, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy- acetic acid (2,4-D) and 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (2,4,5-TP), commonly known as Silvex, in raw and finished waters. The survey, conducted during September through November 1970, was based on a one-time sampling of the community water supplies representing a widespread geographical distribution over the United States. Companion raw and finished water samples or either raw or finished water samples were collected from water supplies located in Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Puerto Rico. ------- -2 Laboratory analyses were performed by electron capture gas chromatography of the methyl esters of 2,4,5-T and related chlorophenoxy acid herbicides. In some instances, where quanti- fiable amounts of a herbicide were detected, the identity of the herbicides was confirmed by microcoulometry. The quantitative reporting level for 2,4,5-T and related herbicides for the analytical method used was 0.5 parts per billion (ppb). The herbicide 2,4,5-T was detected in 11 or 19.0 percent of the 58 community water supplies examined. However, the herbicide was present in trace amounts only, ranging from less than 0.5 ppb to 0.57 ppb in the raw and/or finished waters. The herbicide 2,4-D was detected in 18 or 31.0 percent of the 58 community water supplies examined. As with 2,4,5-T, the herbicide 2,4-D was also found in trace amounts only, ranging from less than 0.5 ppb to 3.44 ppb in the raw and/or finished waters. The herbicide 2,4,5-TP was detected in only 4 or 6.9 percent of the community water supplies examined. The concentration of 2,4,5-TP in these four community water supplies was found to be less than 0.5 ppb. The levels of concentration at which 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D, and 2,4,5-TP were detected in these community water supplies are extremely low when compared to the present Public Health Service guideline of a maximum permissible concentration of 0.1 mg/liter ------- -3 (ppm) for either the individual herbicide or the sum of any combination of these herbicides. The trace amounts of these herbicides as found in this survey may be interpreted as being relatively insignificant from a public health standpoint. In view of the conditions under which this survey was conducted, however, the lack of occurrence of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides or their detection in only trace amounts in these community water supplies should be considered as a preliminary finding. If widespread use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides is to be continued in the United States, a comprehensive study, taking into consideration all the major factors influencing the occurrence and detection of these herbicides in drinking water supplies, as men- t tioned in the body of this report, should be conducted. Such a study would be needed to determine the presence of these herbicides in community drinking water supplies during and immediately following their use on watershed and water supply source areas and to evaluate the public health- significance of the findings. INTRODUCTION The herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) has been widely used in the United States since about 1950 for the control of weeds in crop lands, for the eradication or con- trol of aquatic weeds in ponds, streams, and other bodies of water, and for the control of brushy species of plants along railroad and power line rights-of-way and in managed forested areas. Until recently there has been relatively little concern ------- -4 over the potential hazards from the use of 2,4,5-T and the exposure of animals and man to 2,4,5-T residues on food crops and in the water, air, and soil environments when the material is used according to directions. The report on 2,4,5-T of the Panel on Herbicides of the President's Science Advisory Committee pointed out that use of this herbicide at the rates of recommended application results in measurable levels of residues in soils, water, air, plants, and animals, which persist for relatively short periods of time following application. During the past year there has been sharply increased con- cern over the potential hazards to human health from the use of 2,4,5-T and related chlorophenoxy acid compounds, including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2-(2,4,5-trichloro- phenoxy) propionic acid (2,4,5-TP), commonly known as Silvex. This concern has been generated by (1) the findings in recent research studies that 2,4,5-T has markedly increased the inci- dence of abnormal fetuses in laboratory mice and rats, (2) the alleged potential teratogenic and other harmful effects to human health from the use of 2,4,5-T and related compounds in Viet Nam and the United States, and (3) the results of studies on the persistence of 2,4,5-T in the soil and water environments following its application. ------- -5 The growing national attention to the use of 2,4,5-T has brought up the question as to whether this herbicide is getting into drinking water supplies where it may constitute a potential hazard to those who consume the water. There is very little information available at the present time to provide a basis for answering this question because monitoring of public water supplies in the United States for 2,4,5-T and related herbicides has been limited. It is generally recognized, however, that the contamination of drinking water supplies represents a potentially significant route for exposure of human beings to this material especially in those areas of the country where there is direct application of the herbicide to water for weed control and to a lesser extent where there is runoff from forested areas treated for brush control. This survey was carried out during August through November 1970 at the request of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service. It represented a considerably reduced approach to an earlier planned and more comprehensive study of the oc- currence of 2,4,5-T in public drinking water supplies. The purpose of the survey was to answer the question "Is 2,4,5-T getting into surface and ground waters that serve as sources of public water supplies and into drinking water in those geographical areas of the United States where the herbicide is currently being used or has recently been used?" A secondary purpose of the survey ------- -6 was to determine the effect of the currently used water treatment practice in removing or reducing the concentration of the 2,4,5-T if it was found in the water supply source. The current version of the Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards (PHS Publication No. 956, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1962) does not contain standards for pesticides and herbicides. However, in the evaluation of public drinking water supplies, the present Public Health Service guideline is a maximum permissible concentration of 0.1 mg/liter (ppm) for either 2,4,5-T or the sum of any combination of 2,4,5-T and other related compounds. It was planned that the results of this survey would be assessed in relation to this guideline in the future considera- tion of an ultimate standard for 2,4,5-T and other related herbicides in drinking water. FIELD ACTIVITIES AND SAMPLING PROCEDURES The survey was planned so as to include the sampling of selected public water supplies influenced by watershed or drainage basin areas on which 2,4,5-T had been used or was expected to be used in 1970. The Public Health Service Regional Water Hygiene Representatives were responsible for obtaining information on the use of 2,4,5-T on such areas and for identify- ing the public water supplies concerned. It was initially planned that the necessary information would be obtained from State Sanitary Engineers, Federal and State agriculture and forestry ------- -7 agencies, and personnel of railroad and power companies. The identification of areas where 2,4,5-T had been, or was currently being used proved to be a difficult task because such information was not generally available from a single source. Representatives of power companies turned out to be especially good sources of information on the use of 2,4,5-T for brush control on power line rights-of-way. It was originally hoped that two public drinking water supplies in each of the nine Public Health Service regions could be evaluated in the earlier planned study. However, based on contacts by all Regional Water Hygiene Representatives with the States, this was not possible because of generally non- use of 2,4,5-T on watershed areas or lack of information on projected use of the herbicide during 1970. Plans were completed in the earlier planned study for including approximately 15 selected public water supplies representing a widespread geo- graphical distribution. The initiation in August of the requested survey of community water supplies for the occurrence, of 2,4,5-T was late with respect to the general seasonal use of this herbicide especially for con- trol of brushy species of plants. Such operational use of 2,4,5-T is generally begun in March or April and carried out through the early summer months. In addition, the suspension of registration of liquid formulations of 2,4,5-T for use on lakes, ------- -8 ponds, and water courses apparently curtailed the operational use of the herbicide for aquatic weed control during the summer of 1970. Consequently, difficulty was encountered by the Regional Water Hygiene Representatives in locating watershed or drainage basin areas on which 2,4,5-T was currently being used and in identifying affected community water supplies. Primarily as a matter of expediency in getting the survey under way, field sampling was initiated in August of the ap- proximately 15 public water supplies selected for inclusion in the earlier planned study. The schedule for sampling provided for the collection of one set of companion raw and finished water samples for 2,4,5-T analyses from each community water supply in August and another set of such samples in September. If the water samples collected in August from a particular community water supply were negative for 2,4,5-T, the Regional Water Hygiene Representative tried to locate an alternate com- munity water supply for sampling in September thus extending the survey to a larger number of community water supplies and providing a broader geographical coverage. For a number of reasons, it became necessary to extend some of the field sampling activities into October and November. The numbers of community water supplies included in the survey and selected on the basis of information relating to actual or anticipated operational use of 2,4,5-T on the watershed ------- -9 or drainage basin areas influencing the water supplies are shown below according to PHS Region, as follows: PHS Region No. of Community Water Supplies I 3 II 1 III 4 IV 5 VI 15 IX 1 X 2 Total 31 The opportunity was taken to also include in the survey public drinking water supplies which were under special study for other purposes by the Division of Technical Operations of the Bureau of Water Hygiene. Seven recreational area water supplies in Indiana and Ohio were included from a study of Corps of Engineer reservoir developments which serve as water sources for these supplies. Eighteen community water supplies in Tennessee were included from an evaluation of the State of Tennessee Water Supply Program. Samples of finished water that were collected in these special studies for analyses for chlori- nated insecticides were also analyzed for 2,4,5-T and related chlorophenoxy acid herbicides. Although these twenty-five water ------- -10 supplies were not selected for the survey on the basis of informa- tion relating to the use of 2,4,5-T, the results of the analyses do provide useful data on the occurrence of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides in public drinking water supplies. Also included in the survey were two community water supplies in Puerto Rico. The herbicide 2,4-D had been used periodically throughout the summer directly on the water sources of these two water supplies for the control of water hyacinths. Inclusion of these water supplies in the survey provided an opportunity to determine the extent to which the herbicide could be detected in the water supply systems following periods of direct application to the water sources. The total numbers of community water supplies included in the survey without regard to the specific basis for inclusion and according to PHS Region are as follows: PHS Region No. of Community Water Supplies I 3 II 3 III 4 IV 23 V 7 VI 15 IX 1 X 2_ Total 58 ------- -11 The Regional Water Hygiene Representatives were responsible for making arrangements for the collection of water samples. These arrangements were generally made with representatives of the State Health Departments concerned or through such representa- tives directly with personnel associated with the community water supplies to be sampled. The field sampling activities were carried out by PHS Regional Office personnel, State Health Depart- ment representatives, or personnel of the local water works in accordance with the specific arrangements made. The collection of the set of companion raw and finished water samples was accomplished on a grab sampling basis following the sampling schedule previously described. In general, both raw and finished water samples were collected at the water treatment facility with the former sample being collected from the raw water intake and the latter sample being collected from the clear well or from the treated water pumped into the distribution system. No effort was made to estimate time of water travel through the treatment facility to provide for sampling of the same general water mass. Water samples were collected in 1-gallon glass jugs which were provided in styrofoam shipping containers by the Gulf Coast Water Hygiene Laboratory. Each glass jug was fitted with a teflon- lined screw cap. All water sample jugs had been previously treated by washing with a detergent followed by drying and rinsing with ------- -12 hexane. The filled water sample jugs were returned to the Laboratory in the styrofoam shipping containers generally by air mail parcel post. LABORATORY PROCEDURES Analyses of all water samples for 2,4,5-T and related chlorophenoxy acid herbicides were performed by the Gulf Coast Water Hygiene Laboratory. Each water sample was extracted during the day of its arrival; in the few instances when this was not possible, the sample was kept at 1.1 C until extracted. In accordance with the plan for analyses of companion raw and finished water samples collected from a'Community water supply, analysis was performed initially on the raw water sample. If no chlorophenoxy acids were found in the raw water sample, the companion finished water sample was generally not analyzed. A herbicides analysis was performed on each raw or finished water sample that was the only sample collected from a water supply. The procedure followed for the extraction and saponification of 2,4,5-T, '2,4-D, and 2,4,5-TP was that of Goerlitz and Lamar . In this procedure the sample was acidified to pH 2.0 and extracted with ethyl ether. The extract was then saponified to ensure the ^Goerlitz, Donald F. and William L. Lamar. 1967. Determination of Phenoxy Acid Herbicides in Water by Electron-Capture and Microcoulometric Gas Chromatography. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1817-C. ------- -13 recovery of the herbicides in the free acid form. The recovery of the free acids was followed by conversion to their respective methyl esters with methanol and sulfuric acid according to (2) Rogozinski . All solvents used were those supplied by the manufacturers (Mallinckrodt or Burdick and Jackson) as suitable for pesticide residue analysis. Reagent grade methanol was dis- tilled in glass prior to its use in the esterification procedure. The herbicides were identified and quantitated by dual column gas-liquid chromatography of their methyl esters. The instrument used was a Micro-Tek Model 2000 MF equipped with electron capture detectors. Glass, U-shaped columns 6 feet long x 1/4 inch OD were packed with 60/80 mesh Gas Chrom Q coated with either 3% DC-200, a combination of 2% SE-30 and 3% OV-210, or a combination of 1.5% OV-17 and 1.9% QF-1. The carrier gas was nitrogen, and the oven temperature was 156 C. In some instances, as noted in the Appendix, where quantifiable amounts of a herbicide were detected, the identity of the herbicides was confirmed by microcoulometry. The quantitative reporting level for 2,4,5-T and related herbicides for the analytical method used was 0.5 parts per billion (ppb). Standard samples of the herbicides were obtained from the Food and Drug Administration, Pesticide Repository, Perrine (2) ^ 'Rogozinski, M. 1964. A Rapid Quantitative Esterification Technique for Carboxylic Acids. J. Gas Chromatog. 2:136; H. P. Burchfield and D. E. Johnson. 1965. Guide to the Analysis of Pesticide Residues, Vol. 1, U.S. Dept. of HEW, Washington, D.C. ------- -14 Primate Research Branch, Perrine, Florida. The efficiency of the extraction procedure used was determined by analyzing water samples previously spiked with known amounts of these standard acids. It was found that the recovery of 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D was 90% while that of 2,4,5-TP was 88.3%. Quantitation was accomplished by comparing the height of unknown peaks with the height of peaks produced by methylation products of known amounts of the standard acids. Values reported were corrected for the loss incurred during the extraction procedure. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF DATA The results of analyses of community water supplies for the occurrence and levels of concentration of 2,4,5-T and the related chlorophenoxy acid compounds 2,4-D and 2,4,5-TP are presented in Tables 1-5. A tabulation of the analytical results on all com- munity water supply samples examined in the survey is included in the Appendix of this report. As shown in Table 1, the herbicide 2,4,5-T was detected in 11 or 19.0 percent of the total of 58 community water supplies examined without regard for the basis of their inclusion in the survey. The herbicide was detected in trace amounts only with the range of 2,4,5-T concentration in the raw and/or finished water samples being <0.5 to 0.57 ppb. ------- Table 1 Occurrence of 2,4,5-T in Community Water Supplies Description of Group of Water Supplies Selected on Basis of Information on Use of 2,4,5-T and/or Related Herbicides Included in Evaluation of Tennessee Water Supply Program Included in Study of Corps of Engineer Reservoir Developments in Indiana and Ohio All Community Water Supplies Included in Survey No. of Water Supplies Examined 33 18 7 58 Water Supplies in Which 2,4,5-T Detected No. 6 3 2 11 Percent 18.2 16.7 28.6 19.0 2,4,5-T Concentration in ppb in Raw and/or Finished Water Low <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 Median <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 High 0.57 <0.5 <0.5 0.57 Water Supplies in Which 2,4,5-T Not Detected No. 27 15 5 47 Percent 81.8 83.3 71.4 81.0 ------- -16 The group of 33 community water supplies selected on the basis of available information on use of 2,4,5-rT and/or related herbicides on the watershed or water source areas were included in the survey to optimize the likelihood of detecting the herbicide in raw and finished water samples. For several of these water supplies, the PHS Regional personnel were able to verify the use of 2,4,5-T and other herbicides on the watershed or water source areas during the 1970 season. For the majority of these water supplies, however, actual vertification relative to such use of 2,4,5-T and other herbicides was not possible under the conditions of the survey. The herbicide 2,4,5-T was detected in trace amounts in 6 or 18.2 percent of the 33 water supplies in this group. The groups of 18 Tennessee water supplies and of 7 Indiana and Ohio water supplies were included in the survey without regard to any information on the use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides on the watershed or water source areas. The herbicide 2,4,5-T was detected in trace amounts in 16.7 and 28.6 percent, respectively, of the water supplies in these two groups. It is interesting to note from the data in Table 1 that there is relatively little difference in the percentages of the water supplies in which 2,4,5-T was detected among the three groups of water supplies included in the survey. Considering the conditions of the survey and the relatively small number of water supplies ------- -17 included in the three groups, the percentages would have little statistical significance. However, these data do indicate that traces of 2,4,5-T are getting into the water environment and can be detected in community water supplies. Table 2 shows the distribution of the community water supplies examined by the groups and total number included in the study according to the 2,4,5-T concentrations found in the raw and/or finished water samples. These data clearly show the relatively high number of water supplies in which 2,4,5-T was not detected. These data also point up the very low concentrations of 2,4,5-T in those water supplies in which the herbicide was detected. Con- sidering all of the water supplies, 47 of the total of 58 showed no 2,4,5-T. In 10 of the water supplies 2,4,5-T was detected in concentrations less than 0.5 ppb, and in 1 water supply the herbicide was found in the range of 0.5-1.0 ppb (0.57 ppb). It was hoped that the survey would provide information con- cerning the effectiveness of currently used water treatment practices in removing or reducing the concentration of 2,4,5-T if it was present in the raw water source. However, the conditions under which the survey was carried out and the very small concen- trations of 2,4,5-T encountered in the raw water samples precluded the securing of definitive information in this area of inquiry. Companion raw and finished water samples were collected only from 22 of the 33 community water supplies included in the survey ------- -18 Table 2 Distribution of Community Water Supplies According to 2,4,5-T Concentrations Found in Raw and/or Finished Waters Description of Group of Water Supplies Selected on Basis of Information on Use of 2,4,5-T and /or Related Herbicides Included in Evaluation of Tennessee Water Supply Program Included in Study of Corps of Engineer Reservoir Developments in Indiana and Ohio All Community Water Supplies Included in Survey 2,4,5-T Concentration (ppb) •k 27 15 5 47 <0.5 5 3 2 10 0.5-1.0 1 0 0 1 Totals 33 18 7 58 . Not Detected ------- -19 on the basis of information on the use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides on watershed or water source areas. In the six water supplies in this group in which a trace of 2,4,5-T was detected in the raw water sample, a trace of the herbicide was also found in the companion finished water sample. This interesting relationship is shown in Table 3 and indicates that the treatment used in the case of these six water supplies did not completely remove the trace amounts of 2,4,5-T from the raw water. No information was obtained regarding the treatment used on these six water supplies. As shown in Table 4, the herbicide 2,4-D was detected in 18 or 31.0 percent of the total of 58 community water supplies examined without regard for the basis of their inclusion in the survey. The herbicide was detected in trace amounts only with the range of 2,4-D concentration in the raw and/or finished water samples being <0.5 to 3.44 ppb. As can be noted from the data in the Appendix, the 2,4-D concentration was <0.5 ppb in 10 of the 18 water supplies in which the herbicide was detected in raw and/or finished waters. The herbicide 2,4-D was detected in a slightly greater percentage of water supplies than 2,4,5-T. In several instances, higher concentrations of 2,4-D were found. As in the case with 2,4,5-T, the results of the survey indicate that 2,4-D is getting into the water environment and can be detected in trace amounts in community water supplies. ------- -20 Table 3 Relationship of 2,4,5-T in Raw and Finished Waters of Six Water Supplies 2, in 4,5-T (ppb) Raw Water Sample 0.57 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 2,4,5-T(ppb) in Companion Finished Water Sample 0.52 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 ------- -21 The analytical results of water samples collected from two community water supply systems in Puerto Rico are especially interesting. The herbicide 2,4-D had been used intermittently on the water supply sources for water hyacinth control during the summer of 1970. Herbicide spraying operations had been terminated approximately two to three weeks prior to the col- lection of the water samples. Trace amounts of 2,4-D were detected in three raw water samples and in two companion finished water samples. As shown in Table 5, the herbicide 2,4,5-TP was detected in only 4 or 6.9 percent of the total of 58 community water supplies examined in the survey. As can be noted from the data in the Appendix, the 2,4,5-TP concentration was <0.5 ppb in all 4 of the water supplies in which the herbicide was detected in raw and/or finished waters. The analytical results of the survey indicate a lesser occurrence of 2,4,5-TP than the other two herbicides in community water supplies. The occurrence and detection of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides in the raw and/or finished waters of community water supplies depends upon many factors among which are rate of herbicide ap- plication, point or area of application in relation to the water supply source, degradation of the herbicide in the soil and water environment, rainfall and runoff, time of water sample collection in relation to herbicide use, and water treatment practices utilized. ------- -22 Table 4 Occurrence of 2,4-D in Community Water Supplies No. of Water Supplies Examined 58 Water Supplies in Which 2,4-D Detected No. 18 Percent 31.0 2,4-D Concentration in ppb in Raw and/or Finished Water Low <0.5 Median <0.5 High 3.44 Water Supplies in Which 2,4-D Not Detected No. 40 Percent 69.0 Table 5 Occurrence of 2,4,5-TP in Community Water Supplies No. of Water Supplies Examined 58 Water Supplies in Which 2,4,5-TP Detected No. 4 Percent 6.9 2,4,5-TP Concentration in ppb in Raw and /or Finished Water Low <0.5 Median <0.5 High <0.5 Water Supplies in Which 2,4,5-TP Not Detected No. 54 Percent 93.1 ------- -23 Consideration of these and other factors was beyond the scope of this survey which should be appropriately regarded as only a one-time sampling of 58 community water supplies for the detection of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides. Analyses of the survey data show that this one-time sampling of community water supplies which followed generally the period of seasonal use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides and the other conditions of the survey indicate that only traces of these herbicides could be detected in up to 19 to 31 percent of the water supplies. These trace amounts of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides, generally at concentrations less that 0.5 ppb and ranging up to 0.57 ppb for 2,4,5-T and 3.44 ppb for 2,4-D in the raw and/or finished waters, are extremely low when compared to the present Public Health Service guideline of a maximum permissible concentration of 0.1 mg/liter (ppm) for either the individual herbicide or the sum of any combination of these herbicides. On the other 'hand, the survey substantiated the unquestionable fact that the use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides on watershed areas and water supply sources results in the occurrence of the herbicides in the raw and/or finished waters of community water supplies. The lack of occurrence or the detection of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides at very low concentrations or in trace amounts in community water supplies in this survey could possibly be the source of a false sense of security from the public health standpoint. ------- -24 The effectiveness of the suspension of registration of liquid formulations of 2,4,5-T for use on water courses in markedly reducing the amount of the herbicide reaching drinking water sources has yet to be evaluated. However, if widespread use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides is to be continued in the United States, a comprehensive study, taking into consideration the factors mentioned above, is indicated to answer the questions relative to the occurrence of these herbicides in community water supplies and to more definitively evaluate the public health significance. ------- -25 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors acknowledge with appreciation the participation of the following present and former Bureau of Water Hygiene personnel in this project: J. K. Channell 0. T. Love, Jr. J. A. Cofraneesco E. L. MacLeman J. A. DiCarlo F. D. Maddox G. W. Ferguson D. W. Marshall T. C. Ferris F. L. Nelson J. F. Harrison F. W. Norris, Jr. J. J. Healey C. W. Northington G. D. Hutchinson B. H. Pringle R. N. Jungclaus A. V. Soukup R. D. Lee F. B. Taylor E. C. Lippy J. A. Warren T. L. Lothrop H. W. Wolf The contributions of the above individuals varied and, as a group, their participation included assisting in planning the earlier proposed comprehensive study as well as this survey; securing information on the operational use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides; making arrangements with representatives of State and local agencies and water works organizations for the collection of water samples, and in some instances, carrying out water supply sampling activities in the field; and counseling on the preparation of the final report. The cooperation and assistance of representatives of State health departments, power companies, and local water works organizations who participated in this survey are gratefully acknowledged. This group of personnel provided information on ------- -26 the operational use of 2,4,5-T and related herbicides and either arranged for or collected water samples and handled the shipment of these samples to the Gulf Coast Water Hygiene Laboratory for analyses. These activities are recognized as a significant contribution to this survey and are deeply appreciated. Special thanks are extended to Betty D. Moore and Anita L. Ralph of the Gulf Coast Water Hygiene Laboratory for their assistance in the handling of water sampling materials, reporting of analytical results, and typing of the final report. ------- -27 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND NOTES Anon. Herbicides: Order on 2,4,5-T Issued at Unusually High Level, Science 166, 977 (1969). Anon. HEW, USDA Hold Firm; 2,4,5-T Ruling Postponed, Chem. & Eng. News 48, Vol. 7, 11, February 16, 1970. Anon. Washington Concentrates, Chem. & Eng. News 48, Vol. 9, 21, March 2, 1970. Cochrane, D. R., J. D. Pope, Jr., H. P. Nicholson and G. W. Bailey. The Persistence of Silvex in Water and Hydrosoil. Water Resources Res. 3, 517 (1967). Epstein, Samuel S. A Family Likeness. Environment, Vol. 12, No. 6, July/August, 1970. Kearney, P. C., R. G. Nash and A. R. Insensee. Persistence of Pesticide Residues in Soils. In M. W. Miller and G. G. Beng [ed.] Chemical Fallout, C. Thomas, Springfield, 111. (1969). Leigh, Gerald M. Degradation of Selected Chlorinated Hydro- carbon Insecticides. J. Water Poll. Contr. Fed. 41, R450. Loos, M. A. Phenoxyalkanoic Acids. In P. C. Kearney [ed.] Degradation of Herbicides, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York. (1969). ------- -28 Montgomery, Marvin L. and Logan A. Norris. A Preliminary Evaluation of the Hazards of 2,4,5-T in the Forest Environment. Technical Paper No. 2832, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Corvallis. (1970). Morton, Howard L., E. D. Robison and Robert E. Meyer. Persistence of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T and Dicamba in Range Forage Grasses. Weeds 153 268. (1967). Oregon State University. Cut Stream Contamination With Careful Chemical Brush Control. Oregon's Agricultural Progress3 Spring-Summer 1967 (Vol. 14, No. 1). Oregon State University, Department of Agricultural Chemistry. An Evaluation of 2,4,5-T in the Environment. December 1, 1969. Panel on Herbicides of the President's Science Advisory Committee. Report on 2,4,5-T. In draft, July 1970. Tschirley, F. H. Defoliation in Vietnam. Science 163, 779 (1969). Western Society of Weed Science. Research Progress Report, pp. 22-26, 1969. Some background information obtained from personal telephone communications with PHS Regional Water Hygiene Representatives and Arizona State Department of Health personnel. ------- APPENDIX Results of Analyses for 2,4,5-T and Related Herbicides of Raw and Finished Water Samples Collected from Community Water Supplies ECA-9 Serial No. 6306 (R)J 6278 (F) 6277 (R) 6276 (F) 6267 (R) 6268 (R) 6269 (R) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region I Manchester Water Works (High Service Pumping Station) Manchester, New Hampshire Manchester Water Works (Low Service Pumping Station) Manchester, New Hampshire Amherst Water Department (Atkins Reservoir) Amherst, Massachusetts Amherst Water Department (Pelham Supply) Amherst, Massachusetts Holyoke Water Department (McLean Reservoir) Holyoke, Massachusetts Date of Collection 8/31/70 8/31/70 11/03/70 11/03/70 11/03/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T *3 * * * * 2,4-D * * 0.7 0.9 0.7 2,4,5-TP * * * * * Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T 4 NS5 NS NS 2,4-D *•«• NS NS NS 2,4,5-TP „,.-„, — — NS NS NS (R) - Raw Water Sample (F) - Finished Water Sample 3 * - None Found 4 Analysis Not Performed NS No Sample Collected i 10 VO ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 6270 (R) 8441 (R) 8442 (R) 8443 (F) 8440 (F) 8450 (R) 8451 (R) 8453 (F) 8452 (F) 8448 (R) 8446 (R) 8447 (F) 8449 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region I (cont'd.) Holyoke Water Department (Ashley Reservoir) Holyoke, Massachusetts PHS Region II Guaynabo Water System (Lake Cidra) Cidra, Puerto Rico Guaynabo Water System Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Guaynabo Water System (Lake Cidra) Cidra, Puerto Rico Guaynabo Water System Guaynabo, Puerto Rico San Juan Water System (Loiza Lake) San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan Water System (Loiza Filter Plant & Distribution System) San Juan, Puerto Rico Date of Collection 11/03/70 9/02/70 9/02/70 9/02/70 9/02/70 9/29/70 9/29/70 9/29/70 9/29/70 9/10/70 9/10/70 9/10/70 9/10/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * * 2,4-D 0.9 * * 1.5 * <0.5 <0.5 2,4,5-TP * * * * Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T NS * * * 2,4-D NS 0.60 <0.5 * * <0.5 <0.5 2,4,5-TP NS * * * * * I CO o ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 1215 (R) 1214 (F) 1222 (R) 9579 (R) 9581 (F) 9584 (R) 9583 (F) 9586 (R) 9585 (F) 9588 (R) 9589 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region II (cont'd) U.S. Military Academy Water Supply West Point, New York U.S. Military Academy Water Supply (Constitution Island Well) West Point, New York PHS Region III Fairfax County Water Authority Town of Occoquan, Virginia Appomattox River Water Authority Petersburg, Virginia Charlottesville Water Supply Charlottesville, Virginia Newport News Water Supply Newport News, Virginia Date of Collection 10/13/70 10/19/70 8/25/70 8/25/70 9/15/70 9/21/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * 0.57 <0.5 * <0.5 2,4-D * * <0.5 * * * 2,4,5-TP * * <0.5 * * * Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * 0.52 <0.5 * <0.5 2,4-D * <0.5 * * * 2,4,5-TP * * * * * I u> ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 8437 (F) 8444 (R) 8445 (F) 8439 (R) 8438 (F) 8465 (R) 8464 (F) 8466 (F) 8462 (R) 8463 (F) 7206 (F) 7160 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region IV Fayette County Water System Peach tree City, Georgia Macon Water Works Macon, Georgia Elberton Municipal Water Works Elberton, Georgia Gainesville Water Works Gainesville, Georgia LaGrange Water Department LaGrange, Georgia Hallsdale-Powell Utility District Halls Crossroads, Tennessee Nashville Metropolitan Water & Sewerage Services Nashville, Tennessee Date of Collection 8/31/70 9/08/70 8/25/70 10/15/70 10/15/70 10/15/70 8/12/70 7/21-8/3/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T NS * * * NS <0.5 NS NS 2,4-D NS <0.5 * * NS <0.5 NS NS- 2,4,5-TP NS * * * NS * NS NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * * <0.5 * <0.5 2,4-D <0.5 <0.5 * * * * * 2,4,5-TP * * * * * * <0.5 ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 7175 (F) 7179 (F) 6696 (F) 7182 (F) 7202 (F) 7210 (F) 7163 (F) 7178 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region IV (cont'd.) Smith Utility District Carthage, Tennessee Cookeville Water Department Cookeville, Tennessee City Water Company of Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee Sewanee Water Department Sewanee, Tennessee TAPOCO Inc. Water Supply Calderwood, Tennessee Knox Chapman Utility District S. Knoxville, Tennessee Columbia Water System Columbia, Tennessee Camden Waterworks Camden, Tennessee Date of Collection 8/4-17/70 8/4-17/70 8/7-20/70 8/7-20/70 8/12-25/70 8/14-27/70 Not Shown 7/24-8/7/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 2,4-D NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 2,4,5-TP NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * * * * <0.5 * 2,4-D * * * * * it * * 2,4,5-TP * * * * * * * * I U) U) ------- -ECA-9 Serial No. 7172 (F) 6787 (F) 2673 (F) 2677 (F) 7221 (F) 8129 (F) 2688 (F) 7349 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region IV (cont'd.) Turnbull Utility District Burns, Tennessee Johnson City Water Works Johnson City, Tennessee East Kingsport Utility District Kingsport, Tennessee Knoxville Utilities Board Knoxville, Tennessee Rogersville Water Department Rogersville, Tennessee Pleasant Hill Utility District Pleasant Hill, Tennessee Daisy-Soddy Utility District Soddy, Tennessee Whitwell Water Works Whitwell, Tennessee Date of Collection 7/26-8/8/70 8/31-9/13/70 9/1-14/70 9/2-15/70 9/23-10/7/70 9/23-10/6/70 9/28-10/11/70 9/29-10/13/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 2,4-D NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 2,4,5-TP NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * * <0.5 * * * 2,4-D * * * * * * * * 2,4,5-TP * * * * * * * * ------- EGA- 9 Serial No. 6637 (F) 6641 (F) 6683 (F) 6658 (F) 6678 (F) 9029 (F) 9054 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region V Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources Cagles Mill Reservoir, Indiana U.S. Corps of Engineers Cagles Mill Reservoir, Indiana U.S. Corps of Engineers Monroe Reservoir, Indiana U.S. Corps of Engineers Mansfield Reservoir, Indiana Boy Scouts of America Monroe Reservoir, Indiana Burr Oak State Park Water Supply, Rt. 1, Gloster County, Ohio Dilon State Park Water Supply Nashport, Ohio Date of Collection 7/30/70 7/30/70 7/28/70 7/29/70 7/28/70 8/18/70 8/19/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 2,4-D NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 2,4,5-TP NS NS NS NS NS NS NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * <0.5 * * * * <0.5 2,4-D * * * <0.5 * * <0.5 2,4,5-TP * * * * * * * U) V/l ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 6772 (R) 6773 (F) 9440 (R) 6770 (F) 8404 (R) 8403 (F) 8401 (R) 8402 (F) 9437 (R) 3675 (F) 7301 (R) 9438 (F) 8409 (F) 8410 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region VI City of Franklin Water Works Franklin, Louisiana Monroe Water Supply Monroe, Louisiana Natchitoches Water Supply Natch! toches, Louisiana City of Houma Water Supply Houma, Louisiana City of Gladewater Water Supply Gladewater, Texas City of Austin Public Water Supply Austin, Texas City of Beaumont Water Department Beaumont, Texas City of Beaumont Water Department Loeb , Texas Date of Collection 8/31/70 9/02/70 9/30/70 10/28/70 8/24/70 8/27/70 9/24/70 9/24/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T <0.5 * * * <0.5 * NS NS 2,4-D <0.5 * * <0.5 <0.5 * NS NS 2,4,5-TP <0.5 * * <0.5 * * NS NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T <0.5 * * <0.5 — — * * 2,4-D <0.5 * <0.5 * — — — * * 2,4,5-TP <0.5 * <0.5 * — — — * * u> ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 8412 (R) 8411 (F) 8405 (R) 8408 (F) 8407 (R) 8406 (F) 9439 (R) 3674 (R) 6774 (R) 6775 (PT)6 PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supply PHS Region VI (cont'd.) City of Corpus Chris ti Water Works Corpus Chris ti, Texas Tulsa City Water Supply Tulsa, Oklahoma Oklahoma City Water Supply (Lake Draper Treatment Plant) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Weyhauser-Valliant Water Supply Valliant, Oklahoma Eufala City Water Supply Eufala, Oklahoma Wynnewood Water Supply Wynnewood, Oklahoma City of Norman Water Supply Norman, Oklahoma Date of Collection 9/25/70 10/18/70 10/27/70 10/17/70 10/17/70 10/17/70 10/24/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * * * * NS 2,4-D * 0.97a 2.1a 1.4a 1.43 3.44a NS 2,4,5-TP * * A * * * NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * NS NS NS * 2,4-D * 1.3a <0.5 NS NS NS <0.5 2,4,5-TP * * * NS NS NS * (PT) - Partially Treated Water Sample llerbicide identification confirmed by microcoulometry ------- ECA-9 Serial No. 8866 (F) 8867 (F) 8426 (R) 8427 (F) 8429 (R) 8428 (F) 8851 (F) PHS Region Name and Location of Water Supj>ly PHS Region IX City of Globe Water Supply (Cutter Well #1) Globe, Arizona City of Globe Water Supply (Pioneer Well #1) Globe, Arizona PHS Region X Pacific City Water System Pacific City, Oregon Pacific City Water System Pacific City, Oregon City of Hoquiam Municipal Water Supply Hoquiam, Washington Date of Collection 10/14/70 10/14/70 9/04/70 9/29/70 9/03/70 Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Raw Water Sample 2,4,5-T NS NS * * NS 2,4-D NS NS * * NS 2,4,5-TP NS NS * * NS Herbicide Concentration (ppb) in Finished Water Sample 2,4,5-T * * * * * .2,4-D * * * * * 2,4,5-TP * * * * * I LO oo ------- |