United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-003 k-C
October 1995
oEPA National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Dinoseb
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:
7 PPB
7 PPB
WHAT is
DINOSEB
AND HOW IS IT USED?'
WHY is DINOSEB
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE.
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Dinoseb is an organic solid - yellowish crystals with a pungent odor. Its greatest
use is as a contact herbicide for post-emergence weed control in cereals,
undersown cereals, seedling lucerne and peas. Dinoseb is also used as a corn
yield enhancer and an insecticide and miticide.
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 dinoseb has been set at 7 parts per billion (ppb) 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
\yatersystemstodetectand remove contaminants using suitable
treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 7 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 con-
fa'minant 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 dinoseb to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: sweating,
headache, mood changes.
Long-term: Dinoseb has the potential to cause the following
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
AATOX
CHEMOX
GEBUTOX
KNOX'WEED
BASANITE
BNP 20
BUTAPHENE
DlBUTOX
DlNITRALL
DlNITRO
DESICOIL
Dow SELECTIVE
WEED KILLER
HIVERTOX
(l_ADOB
LASEB
NlTROPONE C
DYTOP
PREMERGE
H EL-FIRE
CALDON
KILOSEB
SINOX GENERAL
SUBITEX
DlNITROBUTYL-
PHENOL
October 1995
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
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effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: decreased body and
thyroid weight, degeneration of testes; thickening of intestinal lining.
1982 production of dinoseb was reported as 6.2 million pounds, used primarily
on soybeans and vegetables. Release of dinoseb has resulted primarily from its
use as an herbicide on a Qariety of weeds.
Dinoseb is degraded slowly by soil bacteria and binds weakly to soil. Therefore,
leaching in soil is possible and dinoseb has been detected in groundwater. In
water, dinoseb is mainly broken down by sunlight. It is not likely to accumulate in
aquatic life.
The regulation for dinoseb became effective in 1994. Betw en 1993 and I 995
EPA required your water supplierto collect water samples every 3 months for one
year and analyze them to find out if dinoseb 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 dinoseb so that it is consistently
below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA
for removing dinoseb: Granular activated charcoal.
If the fr vels of dinoseb exceed the MCL, 7 ppb, the system must notify the public
via newspapers, radio, Wand other means. Additional actions, such as providing
alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to
public health.
How MUCH DINOSEB
IS PRODUCED AND
RELEASED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHATHAPPENS TQ
DIN0sEB
WHEN IT IS RELEASED To
THE ENVIRONMENT?
Howwiu.
DIN0sEB
BE DETECTED IN AND
REMOVED FROM
Mv DRINKING WATER?
How WILL I KNOW IF
DINOSEB IS IN MY
DRINKING WATER?
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more
about their dnnking water, and to support local efforts
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 state Department of Health/Environment is also a
valuable 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 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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