FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Synonyms:
•	2-(2.4.5-Trichlorophenoxy)-Propionic Acid;
Silvex; Fenoprop
•	Trade Names: Aqua-Vex; Ded-Weed; Kuron;
Kurosal; Fruitons 1; Silvi-Rhop; Weed-8-Gon
Chemical Desclptlon:
•	Carboxylic acid herbicide
Properties:
« Commercial formulations of 2,4,5-TF contain
small but measureable amounts of 2.3.7,8-
tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). a highly
toxic substance
•	White powder at room temperature
•	Slightly soluble in water
•	Low estimated vapor pressure
Production and Use:
» Prior to 1983, when the EPA cancelled all uses,
it was used as an herbicide to control woody
plants and weeds in crops, industry (forestry
and golf courses), home/garden settings, and
in aquatic environments
ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE
Occurrence:
•	Low-level' contamination of a few ground
wafer supplies occurred during the 1960's and
1970 s, but because of the cancellation of
2.4.5-TP's uses early in the 1980's, present and
future occurrence levels of the chemical are
considered to be unlikely
» Results of the 1990 National Pesticide Survey
(NFS) indicate that 2,4,5-TP was not present in
any rural drinking water wells nor in any
Community Water System (CWS) wells
iefeaset:
•	Releases to" the environment are expected to *
be negligible, but may occur as residual
industrial waste or as persistent residues in soil
Environmental Fate:
•	Released to toll: not expected to voiatilize
significantly; soil mobility will vary widely with
compound formulation and soil type, but
generally expected to have low soil mobility
(strong adsorption to soil - mobility decreases
with decreasing pH) and low potential for
migration to ground water; biodegraaation
and runoff from treated fields may be
significant removal processes
•	Released to surface water: not exceeded *a
volatilize from water; expected to strongiy bind
to sediment where slow biodegraaation is
expected; phofodegradafion may occur near
the surface of wafers
•	Low potential for b©accumulation
HEALTH EFFECTS
Humans:
•	Little data on chronic exposure availacie cur
data from case studies of occupational
workers in the manufacture of sim-iar
chlorophenoxy herbicides indicate that *? may
have detrimental effects upon the nervous
system
Experimental Animals:
•	One of the major problems in assessing tne
effects of 2,4,5-TP is the contamination with
varying amounts of 2,3,7.8-TCDD so that s
often unclear whether the reported nec^h
effects are attributable to 2,4,5-TP. the a;o^n
contaminant, or a combination of both
•	Acute exposure appears to target fhe
and kidneys, causing symptoms sucn zs
depression, posterior quarter
weakness, irritation of the stomac- era
minor liver and kidney damage
•	Long-term exposure causes minor liver o~-a
kidney damage
•	May have teratogenic potential
•	inadequate studies to determine mutagen:;
or carcinogenic potential

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REGULATORY PROFILE
Lifetime HAs: Derived m the same way as an
MCLG
Existing Standards:-
•Clean Air Act (CAA): Wet regulated
•Clean Water Act (CWA):
No criteria established
•Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA):
Hazardous waste
•Superfund (CERCLA):
•Hazardous substance
•SARA; Not regulated
•Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodentlcide Act (FIFRA):
Registered
•Toxic Substances Control Act (T5CA):
Not regulated
HEALTH INFORMATION
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG):
•	Nan-enforceable levels based solely on an
evaluation of possible health risks and
exposure, and taking into consideration a
margin for public safety
•	Set at 0.05 mg/L to protect against damage to
the liver, kidneys, and nervous system
MCLG for 2,4,5-TP = 0.05 mg/L
(effective July 1992)
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL):
•	Legally enforceable levels for contaminants in
oublic drinking water supplies
•	Sased on health risks associated with the
contaminants, analytical methods for their
assay, and water treatment feasibility and
practicality aspects
•	Exceedance of the MCL in drinking water may
result in adverse effects which will depend
upon the contaminant concentration in water,
amount of water/contaminant ingested,
length of exposure, and other biological
parameters
•	Current MCL = 0,01 mg/L
MCL for 2,4,5-TP = 0.05 mg/l
(effective July 1992)
EPA Health Advisories (HA):
•	Short-term HAs: Provide accep'ooie
concentrations of contaminants in wafer for
up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate
the public health risk resulting from an
accidental spill or an emergency
contamination situation
•	Longer-term HAs: Provide guidance for
persistent water contamination situations to
cover a period of up to ? years
Health Advisories:
Short-term HA for a child = 0.2 mg L
Longer-term HA for a child = 0.07 mg, L
Longer-term HA for an adult = 0.3 mg. L
Lifetime HA = 0.05 mg/L
ANALYTICAL METHODS -
•	Gas Chromatography with an Electron
Capture Detector
EPA Method 515.1
WATER TREATMENT
Permanent Treatment:
•	Best Available Technology (BAT):
•	Granular Activated Carbon
SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION
•	If the drinking wafer standards are exceeded,
install BAT or us® an alternative drinking water
supply such as bottiea water
ADDITIONAL HILP
•	State or county health officials can indicate a
certified laboratory for testing
•	Experts in the state Department of
Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, or
Agriculture may also be of help
•	The EPA has toll-free numbers for further
information on drinking wafer auality.
treatment technologies, for obtaining Health
Advisories, and for other regulatory information
•	EPA Hotlines are available Monday through
Friday
•	Safe Drinking Water	800-426-4791
•National Pesticides:	800-858-7378
•	Superfund/ RC R A:	800-424-9346
•	For information on the Clean Wafer Act, call
(202) 260-7301
« for information on the Toxic Substances
Control Act, call (202) 564-1404
•	for information on the Clean Air Act, call
(919) 541-2777

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