This is a fact sheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or
private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found
in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What is Hexachlorocyclopentadiene and how is it used?
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (HEX) is an oily, yellow-green organic liquid
with a pungent odor. Its greatest use is as a raw material in
manufacturing other chemicals, including pesticides, flame retardants,
resins, dyes, pharmaceuticals, plastics, etc. HEX has no end uses of its
own.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you
are using this chemical at home or work.
Trade Names and Synonyms:
HEX
Hexachloropentadiene
Why is Hexachlorocyclopentadiene being regulated?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires
EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or
may cause health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on
possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level
Goals.
The MCLG for HEX has been set at 50 parts per billion (ppb)
because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the
potential health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as
possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect and
remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 50 ppb because EPA believes, given present
technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water
systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it
occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring
these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these regulations.
What are the health effects?
Short-term: EPA has found HEX to potentially cause the following health
effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for
relatively short periods of time: gastrointestinal distress; damage to
liver, kidneys and heart.
Long-term: HEX has the potential to cause the following effects from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to the stomach and
kidneys.
How much Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is produced and released to the
environment?
It has been estimated that between 8 and 15 million lbs. of HEX are
produced each year. Major sources of its release are emissions and
contaminated wastewater from facilities which manufacture or use this
compound as a chemical intermediate, and from the application of
pesticides where it may remain as an impurity. From 1987 to 1993,
according to EPA's Toxic Chemical Release Inventory, HEX releases to
land and water totalled only 78 lbs., all of which was to water. These
releases were primarily from alkalis and chlorine industries. The
largest releases occurred in New York.
What happens to Hexachlorocyclopentadiene when it is released to the
environment?
HEX is not a persistent environmental contaminant. If released to soil, it
is likely to adhere to soil where it will be degraded by microbes. In
water it evaporates quickly and is attacked by sunlight and other
reactive chemicals. Its tendency to accumulate in aquatic life varies
greatly from one species to another
How will Hexachlorocyclopentadiene be detected in and removed from my
drinking water?
The regulation for HEX became effective in 1994. Between 1993 and 1995,
EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months
for one year and analyze them to find out if HEX is present above 0.2
ppb. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to
monitor this contaminant.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL,
your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of HEX so that
it is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods
have been approved by EPA for removing HEX: Granular activated charcoal
combined with Packed tower aeration.
How will I know if Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is in my drinking water?
If the levels of HEX exceed the MCL, 50 ppb, the system must notify the
public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions,
such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required
to prevent serious risks to public health.
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some
public or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems
if found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Drinking Water Standards:
| Mclg: 50 ppb (parts per billion)
Mcl: 50 ppb |
Note: This fact sheet is part of a larger publication
adapted from U.S. EPA publication: EPA National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations.
