United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-003 g-C
October 1995
VVI
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Chlordane
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
2PPB
WHAT is
CHLORDANE
AND HOW IS IT USED?
Chlordane is a'viscous liquid, colorless to amber, with a slight chlorine-like
aromatic odor. It was used on corn, citrus, deciduous fruits and nuts, vegetables;
for home, garden and ornamentals; lawns, turf, ditchbanks and roadsides. It was
applied directly to soil or foliage to control a variety of insect pests including
parasitic roundworms and other nematodes, termites, cutworms, chiggers, leaf-
hoppers. The only commercial use of chlordane products still permitted is for fire
ant control in power transformers.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work.
WHY ts CHLORDANE
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
October 1995
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.
The MCLG for chlordane has been set at zero because EPA
believes this level of protection would not 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 2 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA
t«gieves, 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 ensur-
ing these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these
regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found chlordane to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
VELSICOL1068
ASPON-
CHLORDANE
BELT
CHLORINOAN
CHLOR-KJL
CORTILAN-NEU
DOWCHLOR
OKTACHLOR
OKTATERR
SYNKLOR
TAT CHLOR 4
TOPICLOR
TOXICHLOR
INTOX 8
GOLD CREST C-
100
KILEX
KYPCHLOR
NIRAN
TERMI-DED •
PRENTOX
PENTIKLOR
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
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above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: central nervous system effects
including irritability; excess salivation, labored breathing, trèmors, convulsions,
deep depression - and blood system effects such as anemia and certain types of
leukemia.
Long-term : Chlordane has the potential to cause the following effects from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to liver, kidneys, heart, lungs,
spleen and adrenal glands; cancer.
Chlordane has been released into the environment primarily from its application
as an insecticide. The amount of chlordane used annually in the US prior to 1983
was estimated in 1985 to be greater that 3.6 million pounds. As of April 14, 1988,
however, all commercial use of chlordane in the US hasbeen cancelled.
Chlordane may persist for long periods of time in air, soil and water. Though
chlordane tends to adhere to ¶ Oil, its detection in various groundwaters in NJ and
elsewhere indicates that it can leach to groundwater..lt is only very slowly broken
down by. microbes. Chiordane has been detected in air amples in remote areas
such as over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and in the Arctic.
Chiordane has a great tendency tO accumulate in aquatic organisms, but there
is evidence that this is reversible once exposure is stopped.
The regulation for chlordáne became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and
1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months
for one year and analyze them to find out ifchlordane is present above 0.2 ppb.
If it is present above this level, the system must continue to monitor this
contaminant.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount. of chlordane so that it is
consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been
approved by EPA for removing chlordane:. granular. activated charcoal.
If the levels of Ohlordane exceed the MCL, 2 ppb, the system must notify the
public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as
providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious
risks to public health.
How MUCH CHLORDANE
IS PRODUCED AND
RELEASED To THE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHATAAPPENS TO
CHLORDANE
WHEN IT IS RELEASED To
THE ENVIRONMENT?
How iiiu.
CHLORDANE
BE DETECTED IN AND
REMOVED FROM’
M DRINKING WATER?.
How IIIU. I KNOW IF
CHLORDANE 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 also a
abouttheirdnnking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
to 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.
October1995
Consumer Version
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