United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Washington DC 20460
EPA 570/9-91-012FS
August 1991
>ants
Organic Chemicals
irlo 2
Acrylamide
Alachlor
Aldicarb
Aldicarb sulfone'
Aldicarb sulfoxide4
Atrazine:
Benzene
FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
Effects
MCU
probable cancer, nervous
system
probable cancer
nervous system
nervous system
nervous system
reproductive and cardiac
cancer
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.004
0.003
0.005
Sources
flocculents in sew-
age/wastewater
treatment
herbicide on corn
and soybeans; under
review for cancella-
tion
insecticide on cotton,
potatoes; restricted
in many areas due to
groundwater con-
tamination
degraded from
aldicarb by plants
degraded from
aldicarb by plants
widely used herbi-
cide on corn and on
non-crop land
fuel (leaking tanks);
solvent commonly
used in manufacture
of industrial chemi-
cals, pharmaceuti-
cals, pesticides,
paints and plastics
11n milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 Effective date - July 30,1992.
3 TT=Treatment technique requirement in effect.
4 Effective date - January 1,1993.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS ( Page 2 )
Contaminants Health Effects MCL 1 Sources
Carbofuran 2 nervous system and reproduc- 0.04 soil fumigant/insecti-
tive system dde on corn/cotton;
restricted in some
areas
Carbon Tetrachioride possible cancer 0.005 commonly used in
cleaning agents,
industrial wastes
from manufacture of
coolants
Chiordane probable cancer 0.002 soil insecticide for
termite control, corn;
potatoes; most uses
cancelled in 1980
2,4-D 2 liver, kidney, nervous system 0.07 herbicide for wheat,
(Current MCL = 0.1) corn, rangelands
Dibromochioropro- probable cancer 0.0002 soil fumigant on
pane (DBCP) 2 soybeans, cotton;
cancelled in 1977
Dichlorobenzene p- possible cancer 0.075 used in insecticides,
moth balls, air de-
odorizers
Dichlorobenzene o- 2 nervous system, lung, liver, 0.6 industrial solvent;
kidney chemical manufac-
turing
Dichloroethane (1,2-) possible cancer 0.005 used in manufacture
of insecticides,
gasoline
Dichloroethylene liver/kidney effects 0.007 used in manufacture
(1,1)2 of plastics, dyes,
perfumes, paints,
SOCs (Synthetic
Organic Chemicals)
Dichioroethylene nervous system, liver, circula- 0.07 industrial extraction
(cis-1 ,2-) 2 tory solvent
1 In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 Effective date - July 30, 1992.
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Dichioroethylerie nervous system,
(trans-1,2) 2 tory
Dich I oropropane
(1,2-) 2
Endrin
Epichlorohydrin 2
Ethylbenzene 2
Ethylene dibromide
(EDB) 2
Heptachlor 2
Heptachior epoxide 2
Lindane 2
(Current MCL =
0.004)
Methoxychlor 2
(Current MCL = 0.1)
probable cancer, liver, lungs,
kidney
nervous system/kidney effects
probable cancer, liver, kidney,
lungs
kidney, liver, nervous system
FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (Page 3 )
MCL t
0.1
0.005
0.0002
TT 4
0.7
0.00005
0.0004
0.0002
0.0002
0.04
Sources
industrial extraction
solvent
soil fumigant; indus-
trial solvent
insecticide used on
cotton, small grains,
orchards (cancelled)
epoxy resins and
coatings, flocculents
used in treatment
present in gasoline
and insecticides;
chemical manufac-
turing
gasoline additive;
soil fumigant, solvent
cancelled in 1984;
limited uses continue
insecticide on corn;
cancelled in 1983 for
all but termite control
soil and water organ-
isms convert hepta-
chlor to the epoxide
insecticide for seed!
lumber/livestock pest
control; most uses
restricted in 1983
insecticide on alfalfa,
livestock
1 In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 Effective date - July 30, 1992.
Phase V proposes changing MCL for Endrin to 0.002.
TT=Treatment technique requirement in effect.
liver, circula-
probable cancer
probable cancer
probable cancer
nervous system, liver, kidney
nervous system, liver, kidney
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Contaminants
Monochlorobenzene 2
Pentachlorophenol 2
Polychlo ri nated
byphenyls (PCBs) 2
Styrene 2
Tetrachloroethylene
Toluene 2
Total
Tn halomethanes
(TTHM) (chloroform,
bromoform, bromo-
dichloromethane,
dibromochioromethane)
Toxaphene 2
(Current MCL =
0.005)
2-4-5-TP (Silvex) 2
(Current MCL = 0.01)
Trichloroethane
(1,1,1)
1 In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 Effective date - July 30, 1992.
0.001 wood preservative
and herbicide; non-
wood uses banned in
1987
0.0005 electrical transform-
ers, plasticizers;
banned in 1979
0.1 plastic manufacturing;
resins used in water
treatment equipment
0.005 dry cleaning/industrial
solvent
1
0.1
0.003
0.05
0.2 used in manufacture of
food wrappings, syn-
thetic fibers
primarily formed when
surface water contain-
ing organic matter is
treated with chlorine
insecticide/herbicide for
cotton, soybeans;
cancelled in 1982
FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (Page 4)
kidney, liver, nervous system
probable cancer, liver, kidney
pesticide manufactur-
ing; metal cleaner,
industrial solvent
probable cancer
liver, nervous system
probabre cancer
kidney, nervous system, lung
cancer risk
chemical manufactur-
ing; gasoline additive;
industrial solvent
probable cancer
nervous system, liver, kidney
nervous system problems
herbicide on range-
lands, sugar cane, golf
courses; cancelled in
1983.
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FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (Page 5)
Vinyl chloride
Xylenes 2
Inorganic chemicals
Arsenic 3
Asbestos 2 benign tumors
Barium 5 circulatory system
(Current MCL = 1.0
mg/I)
Cadmium 2 kidney
In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 Effective date - July 30, 1992.
MCL for arsenic currently under review.
fibers per liter, with fiber length> 10 microns.
Effective date - January 1, 1993.
cancer nsk
liver, kidney, nervous system
dermal and nervous system
toxicity effects
0.002
10
0.05
7 MFL’
2
0.005
polyvinyl chloride pipes
and solvents used to
join them; industrial
waste from manufacture
of plastics and synthetic
rubber
paint/ink solvent; yaso-
line refining by-product;
component of deter-
gents
geological, pesticide
residues, industrial
waste and smelter
operations
natural mineral de-
posits; also in Asbes-
tos/Cement pipe
natural mineral de-
posits; oil/gas drilling
operations; paint and
other industrial uses
natural mineral de-
posits; metal finishing;
corrosion product
plumbing
Trichloroethylene possible cancer
(TCE)
waste from disposal of
dry cleaning materials
and manufacturing of
pesticides, paints,
waxes and varnishes,
paint stripper, metal
degreaser
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FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (Page 6)
contaiTitnants Hesith Effects MCL Sources
Chromium 2 liver/kidney, skin and digestive 0.1 natural mineral
(Current MCL = 0.05) system deposits; metal
finishing, textile,
tanning and leather
industries
Copper 3 stomach and intestinal distress; TT 4 corrosion of interior
Wilson’s disease household and
building pipes
Fluoride skeletal damage 4 geological; additive
to drinking water;
toothpaste; foods
processed with
fluorinated water
Lead 3 central and peripheral nervous IT 4 corrosion of lead
(Current MCL = 0.05) system damage; kidney; highly solder and brass
toxic to infants and pregnant faucets and fixtures;
women corrosion of lead
service lines
Mercury kidney, nervous system 0.002 industrial/chemical
manufacturing;
fungicide; natural
mineral deposits
Nitrate methemoglobinemia “blue-baby 10 fertilizers, feedlots,
syndrome” sewage; naturally in
soil, mineral depos-
its
Nitrite 2 methemoglobinemia “blue-baby 1 unstable, rapidly
syndrome” converted to nitrate;
prohibited in working
metal fluids
Total (Nitrate and Not applicable 10 Not applicable
2
1 In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 Effective date - July 30, 1992.
Effective date - December 7, 1992.
technique requirement in effect.
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Radionuclides
Beta particle and
photon activity
Gross alpha particle
activity
Radium 226/228
Microbiological
Giardia Lamblia
Legionella
Total Coliforms
FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (Page 7)
cancer
cancer
bone cancer
stomach cramps, intestinal
distress (Giardiasis)
Legionnaires’ disease (pneu-
monia), Pontiac Fever
Not necessarily disease-caus-
ing themselves, coliforms can
be indicators of organisms that
can cause gastroentenc infec-
tions, dysentery, hepatitis,
typhoid fever, cholera, and
other. Also, coliforms interfere
with disinfection.
0.05
4 mrem/yr
15 pCi/L 3
5 pCi/L 3
TT 4
TT 4
See note 5
natural mineral de-
posits; by-product of
copper mining/smelt-
ing
radioactive waste,
uranium deposits,
nuclear facilities
radioactive waste,
uranium deposits,
geological/natural
radioactive waste,
geological/natural
human and animal
fecal mater
water aerosols such
as vegetable misters
human and animal
fecal matter
In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 “Rem” means the unit of dose equivalent from ionizing radiation to the total body of any internal organ or organ system.
A “millirem (mrem)” 1/1 000 of a rem.
“Picocurie (pCi)’ means the quantity of radioactive material producing 2.22 nuclear transformations per minute.
4 Treatment technique requirement in effect.
For large systems (40 or more routine samples per month) no more than 5.0% of the samples can be positive. For small
systems (39 or fewer routine samples per month) no more than one sample can be positive.
Selenium nervous system
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FACT SHEET:
NATIONAL PRIMARY
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (Page 8)
Contaminants HeaJth Effect* MCLI Sources
Turbidity interferes with disinfection 0.5 - 1.0 erosion, runoff, dis-
NTU charges
(nephelomet-
nc turbidity
unit)
Viruses gastroenteritis (intestinal dis- 112 human and animal
tress) fecal matter
Other substances
Sodium possible increase in blood none geological, road
pressure in susceptible mdi- (20mg/I salting
viduals reporting
level) 3
1 In milligrams per liter, unless otherwise noted.
2 technique requirement in effect.
Monitoring is required and data is reported to health officials to protect inaiviauais on nigniy restricted Sodium diets.
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