National Primary Drinking Water Regulations : Aldicarb and its by-Products [Consumer Version]


                   United States
                   Environmental Protection
                   Agency'
                             Office of Water
                             4601
EPA 811-F-95-O03 c-C
      October 1995
   oEPA       National  Primary  Drinking
                   Water Regulations
                   Aldicarb and its by-products
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public
or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health  problems if
found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
WHAT is
ALDICARB
AND HOW IS IT USED?
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
MCL:
1 PPB
3 PPB
  Aldicarb is a white crystalline solid with a sulfurous odor. Aldicarb is an
 insecticide applied to the soil for control of chewing & sucking insects like aphids
 and on nematodes. It is used in glasshouse & outdoor ornamentals, and on crops:
 primarily cotton, but also sugar beet, strawberries, potatoes, onions, hops, and
 others.
  The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
 this chemical at home or work.
WHY is ALDICARB
BEING REGULATED?
  In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs).
  The MCLG for aldicarb has been set at 1 part per billion (ppb) because EPA
believes this level of protection would not cause any of trie potential health
problems described below. MCLGs have also been set for aldicarb sulfone and
aldicarb sulfoxide, since aldicarb quickly breaks down into these chemicals once
it is applied to crops.
  Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible,
considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants
Dosing suitable treatment technologies.
  The MCL has been set at  3 ppb because EPA  believes,  given present
technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can
reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking
water.
  These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these stan-
dards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water




WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?

October 1995
regulations. AII puonc water supplies must aoiae py tnese
regulations.


Short-term: EPA has found aldicarb or its breakdown prod'-
ucts to potentially cause the following health effects when
people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
TEMIK
CARBAMYL
, CARBANOLATE;
SULFONE
ALOOXYCARB
UNION CARBIDE
Consumer Version Printed on Recycled Paper

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short periods of time: nausea, diarrhea and relatively minor neurological symp-
toms. These effects are reversible ;
Long-term : Aldicarb has the potential to cause the following effects from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: sweating, constricted eye pupils and
leg weakness.
Release of aldicarb to the environment will occurdue to its manufacture and use
as a systemic insecticide, ascaricide and nematocide for soil use. As the result
of the aldicarb contamihation of drinking water wefis, Union Carbide Corporation
excluded the use.of aldicarb products in Suffolk Counts’, Long Island, New York.
The company also limited the use of aldicarb products to once every two years
and only after plant emergency in the States of Maine and Wisconsin and the
Counties of Hartford in Connecticut, Kent and NewCastle in Delaware, Franklin
and Hampshire in Massachusetts, Worchester in Maryland, Atlantic, Burlington,
Cumberland, Monmouth and Salem in New Jersey, Newport and Washington in
Rhode Island, and Accomack and Northampton in Virginia.
Aldicarb may be applied at planting for aphid control in the State of Maine.
If aldicarb is released to the soil it should not bind to the soil. Microbes and
chemicals in soils will breakdown aldicarb into its metabolites, aldicarb sulfoxide
and aldicarb sulfone. It tends to persist in soils for up to 15 days Aldicarb may
leach to the groundwater in some soils where the rates of breakdown are relatively
slow, as in acidic soils. If aldicarb is released to water it should not adsorb to
sediments or bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms. It tends to persist in water
longer than in soil.
NOTE: The MCLs for aldicarb and its metabolites are not in effect at
preèent By December 311995, your water supplier must have completed its
collection of a series ofwater samples - every 3 months for one year - and analyze
them to find out if aId icarb or its metabolites are present.
How MUCH ALDICARB
IS PRODUCED AND
RELEASED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHAT HAPPENS TO
ALDICARB
WHEN IT IS RELEASED TO
THE ENVIRONMENT?
How iwu.
ALDICARB
BE DETECTED IN. AND
REMOVED FROM
Mv DRINKING WATER?
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn mare Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a
about their drinking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
to protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking For help in locating these agencies or for. information on
water. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern- drinking water in general, call:’
rnent listings are a good starting point. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
Your local water supplier can give, you a list of the . For additional information on the uses and releases of
chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how chemicals in your state, contact the:
your water is treated. . Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202.
October 1995
Consumer Version
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