United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-003 i-C
October 1995
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Dalapon
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: 0.2 PPM
MCL: 0.2 PPM
WHAT is .
DALAPON
AND HOW IS IT USED?
WHY is DALAPON
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Dalapon is a colorless liquid with an acrid odor sold as sodium or magnesium
salt. Dalapon is a herbicide used to control grasses in a wide variety of crops,
including fruit trees, beans, coffee, com, cotton and peas. It is alsojegistered for
use in a number of non-crop applications such as lawns, drainage ditches, along
rajlroad tracks, and in industrial areas.
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 Level Goals.
The MCLG for dalapon has been set at 0.2 parts per million (ppm) 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 also been set at 0.2 ppm because EPA believes,
grven 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 w.ater.
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: Dalapon is not known to cause any health
problems when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL
for relatively short periods of time.
Long-term: Dalapon has the potential to cause the following
effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: in-
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
REVENGE
ALATEX
BASFAPON
BASINEX .
CRISAPON
DAWPON-RAE
DED-WEED
DOWPON
GRAMEVIN
KENAPON
LIROPON
PROPON
RADAPON
UNIPON
S-1315
S-95
2,2-DPA
- 2,2-DICHLORO-
PROPRIONIC ACID
October 1995
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
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creased kidney-to-body weight.
balapon is released directly to the environment in its use as a herbicide for the
control of annual and perennial grasses. Domesti production of dalapon in 1982
ranged between 7 and 9 millionibs. active ingredient. In 1984, its use in California
was reported as follows: Non-food use, 92.9% (mostly on rights of way); main food
crop treated was sugarbeet (6.7% of total).
Dalapon leaches readily in soil, though in some soils, microbes may break it
down fast enough to prevent ground water contamination. Still, a persistence of
six months has been observed in soils of various forests and tree nurseries.
Microbes will also degrade most of any releases to water. Accumulation in aquatic
life is not expected to be a problem.
The regulation for dalapon became effective in 1994. 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 if dalapon is present above I ppb. If it is present
above this level, the system must óontinue to monitor this contaminant.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier must take steps toreduce the amount of dalapon so that it is consistently
below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA
for removing dalapon: Granular activated charcOal.
If the levels of dalapon exceed the MCL, 0.2 ppm 1 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
risk public health.
How MUCH DALAPON
IS PRODUCED AND
RELEASED TO TIlE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHATHAPPENS TO
DALAPON
WHEN IT IS RELEASED TO
THE ENViRONMENT?
How wiu.
DALAPON
BE DETECTED IN AND
REMOVED FROM
Mv DRINKING WATER?
How 14’ILL I KNOW, IF
DALAPON IS IN MY
DRINKING WATER?
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more
about their dnnking water, and ‘ wpport local efforts
to protect and. upgrade the s Jy of safe drinking
water. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern.
rnent Listings are a good starting point.
Your state Department of HealthlEnvironment is also a
valu e source of information.
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 aelp 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
chemica’s in your state,contact the:
Community Right-to-Know liotline: (800) 535 O202.
October1995
Consumer Version
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