United States
^Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA'811-F-95-003cc-C
October 1995
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Toxaphene
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).
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
MCL:
ZERO
3 PPB
WHAT is
TOXAPHENE
AND HOW IS IT USED?
WHY is TOXAPHENE
BEING REGULATED?
WHATARETHE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Toxaphene is an amber, waxy organic solid with a piney odor. Toxaphene was
used as an insecticide for cotton and vegetables, and on livestock and poultry.
These uses have been restricted, and toxaphene is now used only for special
needs, mainly in southern states.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work.
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
bevel Goals.
the MCLG for toxaphene has been set at zero because
EPA believes this level of protection would hot cause any of
the potential health problems described below.
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
using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 3 parts per billion (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 drink-
ing water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for
ensuring these standards are met, are called National Pri-
mary Drinking Water Regulations. All public water supplies
must abide by these regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found toxaphene to potentially cause
the following health effects when people are exposed to it at
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
CHLORINATED CAMPHENE
OCTACHLOROCAMPHENE
CAMPHOCHLOR
AGRICIDE MAGGOT
KILLER
ALLTEX
CRESTOXO
COMPOUND 3956
ESTONOX
FASCO-TERPENE
'.GENIPHENE
HERCULES 3956 '
M5055
MELIPAX
MOTOX
PENPHENE
PHENACIDE
PHENATOX
STROBANE-T
TOXADUST
TOXAKIL
VERTAC 90%
TOXON 63
ATTAC
ANATOX •
ROYAL BRAND BEAN
Tox82
COTTON Tox MP82
SECURITY Tox-SoL-6
SECURITY Tox-MP
COTTON SPRAY
SECURITY. MOTOX 63 ,
.COTTON SPRAY
AGRC-CHEM BRAND
TORBIDAN 28
DRRoGER'sTOXENE
October 1995
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
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levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: central nervous system
effects including restlessness, hyperexcitability,tremors; spasms or convulsions.
Long-term : Toxaphene has the potential to cause the following effects from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: liver and kidney degeneration; central
nervous system effects; possible immune system suppression; cancer.
Production of toxaphen in 1977 was nearly 40 million pounds. By 1982, when
EPA cancelled most of its uses, consumption was reported at 12 million poUnds.
Toxaphene is released into the environment primarily frc s application as an
insecticide for the protection of cotton, mostly in souther ates.
Toxaphene is very persistent, remaining in soil for up to 14 years. It is not
expected to leach to groundwater. It will not break down by microbial or other
means. Though it strongly binds to soils and the sediments of water bodies, it may
gradually evaporate to the air where it is slowly broken down by sunlight.
Toxaphene has a high potential to accumulate in aquatic life.
The regulation for toxaphene became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and
1995, EPA required your water supplier toco!lect water samples every 3 months
for one year and analyze them to find out if toxaphene is present above 1 ppb. If
it is present above this level, the system must continue to monitor this contami-
nant.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of toxaphéne so that it is
consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been
approved by EPA.for removing toxaphene: Granular activated charcoal.
If the levels of toxaphene exceed the MCL, 3 ppb, the system must notif the
public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as
providing alternative drinking wate.r supplies, may be.required to prevent serious
risks to public health.
How MUCH TOXAPHENE
IS PRODUCED AND
RELEASED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHAT HAPPENS TO
TOXAPHENE
WHEN IT IS RELEASED TO
THE ENVIRONMENT?
HOW WILL
TOXAPHENE
BE DETECTED IN AND
• REMOVED FROM
M DRINKING WATER?
• How W ILL IKNow IF
TOXAPHENE IS IN MY
DRINKING WATER?
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more Your state Department of Health/Environment is alsà a
bout their drinking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking
water. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern-
ment listings are a good starting point.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the
chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how
your water is treated.
For help in locating these agencies or for information on
drinking water in general, call:
EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426 4791.
For additional information on the uses and releases of
chemicals in your state, contact the:
Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202.
October 1995
Consumer Version
Page 2
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