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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Toxaphene

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Toxaphene is a neurotoxic, persistent and bioaccumulative insecticide classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

2

states detected

14

utilities detected

298,000

people served

1

states over health guideline

6

utilities over health guideline

23,272

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for toxaphene

Cancer

Harm to the brain and nervous system

Harm to the liver

Harm to the kidney

Hormone disruption

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.03 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.03 ppb for toxaphene was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 3 ppb

The legal limit for toxaphene, established in 1991, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to toxaphene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

States reporting toxaphene in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Florida623,27213298,293
Maryland001139
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce toxaphene

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of toxaphene, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Sanfords Creek SubdivisionDenver, NC1 of 70.729 ppb48
Florida Pines Mobile Home ParkVenice, FL1 of 20.290 ppb280
St. Lucie Mobile VillageIndiantown, FL1 of 20.250 ppb750
Hunt Farm Water CompanyWaccabuc, NY1 of 50.200 ppb156
Mulberry, City ofMulberry, FL2 of 90.127 ppb3,780
Alamo Sewer and Water GidAlamo, NV1 of 40.125 ppb900
City of Fort MeadeFort Meade, FL1 of 50.1000 ppb5,455
Fern Crest Utilities Inc.Ft Lauderdale, FL1 of 60.0950 ppb3,123
Lake Alfred, City ofLake Alfred, FL1 of 60.0850 ppb5,584
Sunrise SouthwestFort Lauderdale, FL1 of 50.0680 ppb9,457
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.0363 ppb127,700
Frostproof, City ofFrostproof, FL2 of 120.0200 ppb3,550
City of Baltimore*Baltimore, MD1 of 240.00538 ppb1,600,000
Apostolic TowersBaltimore, MD1 of 240.00538 ppb200
The Neighborhoods At St. ElizabethBaltimore, MD1 of 240.00538 ppb162
Keswick Multi-care CenterBaltimore, MD1 of 240.00538 ppb575
Metropolitan Of BaltimoreVienna, MD1 of 240.00538 ppb492
Tamiami Village Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb1,200
Mobile Manor Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb482
Pine Lakes Mobile Home ParkN. Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb1,220
Old Bridge Village Mobile Home ParkNorth Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb1,000
Town of Fort Myers Beach (beach Water)Fort Myers Beach, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb6,900
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb12,717
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb251,502
Pleasant ValleyWestminster, MD1 of 40.000475 ppb139

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Toxaphene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Miramar (East & West) PlantsMiramar, FL1 of 160.0363 ppb127,700
City of Baltimore*Baltimore, MD1 of 240.00538 ppb1,600,000
Lee County Utilities*Fort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb251,502
Gateway Services DistrictFort Myers, FL1 of 250.00232 ppb12,717

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Toxaphene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.