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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin)

Status: National drinking water standard exists

 

Dioxins are contaminants released from chemical manufacturing, pulp and paper bleaching, and incineration of products that contain chlorine. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) is the most toxic chemical in the group of dioxins. Read More.

Dioxins are among the most toxic known environmental pollutants. As a class, dioxins are extremely toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative; these contaminants build up and are stored in fatty tissues and fluids, such as breast milk, and pass from the mother to the child. Most people are exposed to dioxins through the food they eat, primarily from meat, dairy, fish and eggs. In humans, dioxins are associated with cancer, birth defects, damage to the nervous and immune systems, altered metabolism, thyroid disruption, altered menstrual cycling and damage to the cardiovascular system.

2017-2019:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

3

states detected

11

utilities detected

81,890

people served

3

states over health guideline

11

utilities over health guideline

81,890

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for 2,3,7,8-TCDD

Cancer

Harm to fetal growth and child development

Harm to the central nervous system

Hormone disruption

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.0002 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.0002 ppt for 2,3,7,8-TCDD was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 0.03 ppt

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting 2,3,7,8-TCDD in drinking water

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served UtilitiesPeople Served
Kentucky668,302668,302
Pennsylvania413,528413,528
West Virginia160160
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce 2,3,7,8-TCDD

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Elkhorn City Water DepartmentElkhorn City, KY2 of 40.00300 ppt1,723
Mountain Water District #1 Marrow Bone*Pikeville, KY2 of 40.00300 ppt48,286
Clay City Water SystemClay City, KY2 of 40.00300 ppt2,153
Beech Fork Water Commission*Clay City, KY2 of 40.00300 ppt25
Stanton Water WorksStanton, KY2 of 40.00300 ppt6,611
Mingo County Psd - DelormeNaugatuck, WV2 of 40.00300 ppt60
Saegertown BoroughSaegertown, PA2 of 160.00200 ppt1,500
Titusville Municipal Water*Titusville, PA1 of 70.00200 ppt6,146
Pleasantville Borough WaterPleasantville, PA1 of 70.00200 ppt892

* 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 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Mountain Water District #1 Marrow Bone*Pikeville, KY2 of 40.00300 ppt48,286

* 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 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.