EPA Seeks Public Comment on Possible Drinking Water Contaminants

February 26, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA includes on the draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) currently unregulated contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems, which may require regulation.

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This draft CCL, which is the third such listing, lists 93 chemical contaminants or groups and 11 microbes and describes the process and basis for selecting these contaminants.

The CCL 3 Candidate list includes the following:

Microbial Contaminant Candidates:

• Caliciviruses - Virus (includes Norovirus) causing mild self-limiting gastrointestinal illness.
• Campylobacter jejuni - Bacterium causing mild self-limiting gastrointestinal illness.
• Entamoeba histolytica - Protozoan parasite that can cause short- as well as long-lasting gastrointestinal illness.
• Escherichia coli (0157) - Toxin-producing bacterium causing gastrointestinal illness and kidney failure.
• Helicobacter pylori - Bacterium sometimes found in the environment capable of colonizing human gut that can cause ulcers and cancer.
• Hepatitis A virus - Virus that causes a liver disease and jaundice.
• Legionella pneumophila - Bacterium found in the environment, including hot water systems, that causes lung diseases when inhaled.
• Naegleria fowleri - Protozoan parasite found in shallow, warm surface and ground water causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis.
• Salmonella enterica - Bacterium causing mild self-limiting gastrointestinal illness.
• Shigella sonnei - Bacterium causing mild self-limiting gastrointestinal illness and bloody diarrhea.
• Vibrio cholerae - Bacterium found in the environment causing gastrointestinal illness.

Chemical Contaminant Candidates

• alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane - CAS registry number (CASRN) - 319-84-6 - It is a component of benzene hexachloride (BHC) and was formerly used as an insecticide.
• 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane - CASRN - 630-20-6 - It is an industrial chemical used in the production of other substances.
• 1,1-Dichloroethane - CASRN - 75-34-3 - It is an industrial chemical used as a solvent.
• 1,2,3-Trichloropropane - CASRN - 96-18-4 - It is an industrial chemical used in paint manufacture.
• 1,3-Butadiene - CASRN - 106-99-0 - It is an industrial chemical used in rubber production.
• 1,3-Dinitrobenzene - CASRN - 99-65-0 - It is an industrial chemical and is used in the production of other substances.
• 1,4-Dioxane - CASRN - 123-91-1- It is used as a solvent or solvent stabilizer in the manufacture and processing of paper, cotton, textile products, automotive coolant, cosmetics and shampoos.
• 1-Butanol - CASRN - 71-36-3 - It is used in the production of other substances and as a paint solvent and food additive.
• 2-Methoxyethanol - CASRN - 109-86-4 - It is used in consumer products such as synthetic cosmetics, perfumes, fragrances, hair preparations and skin lotions.
• 2-Propen-1-ol - CASRN - 107-18-6 - It is used in the production of other substances and in the manufacture of flavorings and perfumes.
• 3-Hydroxycarbofuran - CASRN - 16655-82-6 - It is a carbamate and is a pesticide degradate. The parent, carbofuran, is used as an insecticide.
• 4,4'-Methylenedianiline - CASRN - 101-77-9 - It is used in the production of other substances and as a corrosion inhibitor and curing agent for polyurethanes.
• Acephate - CASRN - 30560-19-1 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Acetaldehyde - CASRN - 75-07-0 - It is used in the production of other substances and as a pesticide and food additive.
• Acetamide - CASRN - 60-35-5 - It is used as a solvent, solubilizer, plasticizer and stabilizer.
• Acetochlor - CASRN - 34256-82-1 - It is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Acetochlor ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) - CASRN - 187022-11-3 - Acetochlor ESA is an acetanilide pesticide degradate. The parent, acetochlor, is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Acetochlor oxanilic acid (OA) - CASRN - 184992-44-4 - Acetochlor OA is an acetanilide pesticide degradate. The parent, acetochlor, is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Acrolein - CASRN - 107-02-8 - It is used as an aquatic herbicide, rodenticide and industrial chemical.
• Alachlor ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) - CASRN - 142363-53-9 - Alachlor ESA is an acetanilide pesticide degradate. The parent, alachlor, is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Alachlor oxanilic acid (OA) - CASRN - 171262-17-2 - Alachlor OA is an acetanilide pesticide degradate. The parent, alachlor, is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Aniline - CASRN - 62-53-3 - It is used as an industrial chemical and as a solvent in the synthesis of explosives, rubber products and in isocyanates.
• Bensulide - CASRN - 741-58-2 - It is used as an herbicide.
• Benzyl chloride - CASRN - 100-44-7 - It is used in the production of other substances such as plastics, dyes, lubricants, gasoline and pharmaceuticals.
• Butylated hydroxyanisole - CASRN - 25013-16-5 - It is used as a food additive (antioxidant).
• Captan - CASRN - 133-06-2 - It is used as a fungicide.
• Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) – CASRN - 74-87-3 - It is used as a foaming agent and in the production of other substances.
• Clethodim - CASRN - 110429-62-4 - It is used as an herbicide.
• Cobalt - CASRN - 7440-48-4 - It is a naturally-occurring element and was formerly used as cobaltus chloride in medicines and as a germicide.
• Cumene hydroperoxide - CASRN - 80-15-9 - It is used as an industrial chemical and is used in the production of other substances.
• Cyanotoxins (3) - Toxins naturally produced and released by cyanobacteria ("blue-green algae"). Various studies suggest three cyanotoxins for consideration: Anatoxin-a, Microcystin-LR and Cylindrospermopsin.
• Dicrotophos - CASRN - 141-66-2 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Dimethipin - CASRN - 55290-64-7 - It is used as an herbicide and plant growth regulator.
• Dimethoate - CASRN - 60-51-5 - It is used as an insecticide on field crops such as cotton, orchard crops, vegetable crops, in forestry and for residential purposes.
• Disulfoton - CASRN - 298-04-4 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Diuron - CASRN - 330-54-1 - It is used as an herbicide.
• Ethion - CASRN - 563-12-2 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Ethoprop - CASRN - 13194-48-4 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Ethylene glycol - CASRN - 107-21-1 - It is used as an antifreeze, in textile manufacture and is a cancelled pesticide.
• Ethylene oxide - CASRN - 75-21-8 - It is used as a fungicidal and insecticidal fumigant.
• Ethylene thiourea - CASRN - 96-45-7 - It is used in the production of other substances such as for vulcanizing polychloroprene (neoprene) and polyacrylate rubbers and as a pesticide.
• Fenamiphos - CASRN - 22224-92-6 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Formaldehyde - CASRN - 50-00-0 - It has been used as a fungicide, may be a disinfection byproduct and can occur naturally.
• Germanium - CASRN - 7440-56-4 - It is a naturally-occurring element and is commonly used as germanium dioxide in phosphors, transistors and diodes and in electroplating.
• HCFC-22 - CASRN - 75-45-6 - It is used as a refrigerant, as a low-temperature solvent and in fluorocarbon resins especially in tetrafluoroethylene polymers.
• Hexane - CASRN - 110-54-3 - It is used as a solvent and is a naturally-occurring alkane.
• Hydrazine - CASRN - 302-01-2 - It is used in the production of other substances such as rocket propellants and as an oxygen and chlorine scavenging compound.
• Methamidophos - CASRN - 10265-92-6 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Methanol - CASRN - 67-56-1 - It is used as an industrial solvent, a gasoline additive and also as antifreeze.
• Methyl bromide (Bromomethane) - CASRN - 74-83-9 - It was used as a fumigant andas a fungicide.
• Methyl tert-butyl ether - CASRN - 1634-04-4 - It is used as an octane booster in gasoline, in the manufacture of isobutene and as an extraction solvent.
• Metolachlor - CASRN - 51218-45-2 - It is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Metolachlor ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) - CASRN - 171118-09-5 - Metolachlor ESA is an acetanilide pesticide degradate. The parent, metolachlor, is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Metolachlor oxanilic acid (OA) - CASRN - 152019-73-3 - Metolachlor OA is an acetanilide pesticide degradate. The parent, metolachlor, is used as an herbicide for weed control on agricultural crops.
• Molinate - CASRN - 2212-67-1 - It is used as an herbicide.
• Molybdenum - CASRN - 7439-98-7 - It is a naturally-occurring element and is commonly used as molybdenum trioxide as a chemical reagent.
• Nitrobenzene - CASRN - 98-95-3 - It is used in the production of aniline and also as a solvent in the manufacture of paints, shoe polishes, floor polishes, metal polishes, explosives, dyes, pesticides and drugs (such as acetaminophen) and in its redistilled form (oil of mirbane) as an inexpensive perfume for soaps.
• Nitrofen - CASRN - 1836-75-5 - It is used as an herbicide.
• Nitroglycerin - CASRN - 55-63-0 - It is used in pharmaceuticals, in the production of explosives and in rocket propellants.
• N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone - CASRN - 872-50-4 - It is a solvent in the chemical industry and is used for pesticide application and in food packaging materials.
• N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) - CASRN - 55-18-5 - It is a nitrosamine used as an additive in gasoline and in lubricants, as an antioxidant, as a stabilizer in plastics and also may be a disinfection byproduct.
• N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) - CASRN - 62-75-9 - It is a nitrosamine and was formerly used in the production of rocket fuels, is used as an industrial solvent and an antioxidant and also may be a disinfection byproduct.
• N-nitroso-di-n-propylamine (NDPA) - CASRN - 621-64-7 - It is a nitrosamine and may be a disinfection byproduct.
• N-Nitrosodiphenylamine - CASRN - 86-30-6 - It is a nitrosamine chemical reagent that is used as a rubber and polymer additive and may be a disinfection byproduct.
• N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) - CASRN - 930-55-2 - It is a nitrosamine used as a research chemical and may be a disinfection byproduct.
• n-Propylbenzene - CASRN - 103-65-1 - It is used in the manufacture of methylstyrene, in textile dyeing and as a printing solvent and is a constituent of asphalt and naptha.
• o-Toluidine - CASRN - 95-53-4 - It is used in the production of other substances such as dyes, rubber, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
• Oxirane, methyl - CASRN - 75-56-9 - It is an industrial chemical used in the production of other substances.
• Oxydemeton-methyl - CASRN - 301-12-2 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Oxyfluorfen - CASRN - 42874-03-3 - It is used as an herbicide.
• Perchlorate - CASRN - 14797-73-0 - It is both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical. Most of the perchlorate manufactured in the U.S. is used as the primary ingredient of solid rocket propellant.
• Permethrin - CASRN - 52645-53-1- It is used as an insecticide.
• PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) - CASRN - 335-67-1 - It is used for its emulsifier and surfactant properties in or as fluoropolymers (such as Teflon), firefighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, greases and lubricants, paints, polishes and adhesives and photographic films.
• Profenofos - CASRN - 41198-08-7 - It is used as an insecticide and an acaricide.
• Quinoline - CASRN - 91-22-5 - It is used in the production of other substances and as a pharmaceutical (antimalarial) and as a flavoring agent.
• RDX (Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) - CASRN - 121-82-4 - It is used as an explosive.
• sec-Butylbenzene - CASRN - 135-98-8 - It is used as a solvent for coating compositions, in organic synthesis, as a plasticizer and in surfactants.
• Strontium - CASRN - 7440-24-6 - It is naturally-occurring element and is used as strontium carbonate in pyrotechnics, in steel production, as a catalyst and as a lead scavenger.
• Tebuconazole - CASRN - 107534-96-3 - It is used as a fungicide.
• Tebufenozide - CASRN - 112410-23-8 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Tellurium - CASRN - 13494-80-9 - It is a naturally-occurring element and is commonly used as sodium tellurite in bacteriology and medicine.
• Terbufos - CASRN - 13071-79-9 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Terbufos sulfone - CASRN - 56070-16-7 - Terbufos sulfone is a phosphorodithioate pesticide degradate. The parent, terbufos, is used as an insecticide.
• Thiodicarb - CASRN - 59669-26-0 - It is used as an insecticide.
• Thiophanate-methyl - CASRN - 23564-05-8 - It is used as a fungicide.
• Toluene diisocyanate - CASRN - 26471-62-5 - It is used in the manufacture of plastics.
• Tribufos - CASRN - 78-48-8 - It is used as an insecticide and as a cotton defoliant.
• Triethylamine - CASRN - 121-44-8 - It is used in the production of other substances and as a stabilizer in herbicides and pesticides, in consumer products, in food additives, in photographic chemicals and in carpet cleaners.
• Triphenyltin hydroxide (TPTH) - CASRN - 76-87-9 - It is used as a pesticide.
• Urethane - CASRN - 51-79-6 - It is used as a paint ingredient.
• Vanadium - CASRN - 7440-62-2 - It is a naturally-occurring element and is commonly used as vanadium pentoxide in the production of other substances and as a catalyst.
• Vinclozolin - CASRN - 50471-44-8 - It is used as a fungicide.
• Ziram - CASRN - 137-30-4 - It is used as a fungicide.

The CCL process was established by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act as a mechanism to determine if new regulations are needed to protect drinking water. Under this process the EPA conducts research into the occurrence and health effects of the listed contaminants before issuing new regulations or standards.

In developing the draft CCL 3, the agency implemented a new approach for selecting contaminants, which builds upon evaluations used for previous lists and is based on expert input early in the process and recommendations from a larger number of different groups including stakeholders, the National Research Council and the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, said the EPA.

The draft list includes chemicals used in commerce, pesticides, biological toxins, disinfection byproducts and waterborne pathogens.

The EPA evaluated approximately 7,500 chemicals and microbes and selected 104 candidates for the final draft list based on their potential to pose health risks through drinking water exposure.

The comment period is open for 90 days beginning the day of publication in the Federal Register.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).