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The EPA on Thursday announced it has made a final
determination not to regulate 11 contaminants on the second drinking water
contaminant candidate list (CCL 2). The agency concluded that the contaminants
do not occur nationally in public water systems, or occur at levels below a public
health concern. The agency said its final regulatory determination was based on
extensive review of health effects, occurrence data and public comments.
The 11 contaminants include naturally occurring substances, pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals used (or once used) in manufacturing. While none of the contaminants were found nationally at levels of public health concern in public water systems, the EPA is updating health advisories for seven of the contaminants to provide current health information to local officials for situations where the contaminants may be present.
"Sound science and public health drive EPA's decisions under the Safe Drinking Water Act," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water. "We will continue to thoroughly review new and emerging contaminants to ensure that citizens and our environment are protected."
The agency plans to update health advisories for boron; dacthal mono- and di-acid degradates;1,3-dichloropropene (Telone); 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and 2,6-dinitrotoluene; and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. However, the EPA determined that updated or new health advisories were not needed for 1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (DDE); s-ethyl propyl thiocarbamate (EPTC); Fonofos; and Terbacil, because the national monitoring data showed almost no occurrence at levels of public health concern.
In 2005, the agency published the second CCL, which listed 51 contaminants. In May 2007, the EPA requested public comment on its preliminary regulatory determinations not to regulate 11 of these 51 CCL 2 contaminants.
The 11 contaminants include naturally occurring substances, pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals used (or once used) in manufacturing. While none of the contaminants were found nationally at levels of public health concern in public water systems, the EPA is updating health advisories for seven of the contaminants to provide current health information to local officials for situations where the contaminants may be present.
"Sound science and public health drive EPA's decisions under the Safe Drinking Water Act," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water. "We will continue to thoroughly review new and emerging contaminants to ensure that citizens and our environment are protected."
The agency plans to update health advisories for boron; dacthal mono- and di-acid degradates;1,3-dichloropropene (Telone); 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and 2,6-dinitrotoluene; and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. However, the EPA determined that updated or new health advisories were not needed for 1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (DDE); s-ethyl propyl thiocarbamate (EPTC); Fonofos; and Terbacil, because the national monitoring data showed almost no occurrence at levels of public health concern.
In 2005, the agency published the second CCL, which listed 51 contaminants. In May 2007, the EPA requested public comment on its preliminary regulatory determinations not to regulate 11 of these 51 CCL 2 contaminants.
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