Consumer Factsheet on: XYLENES
List of Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact
sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
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).
What is Xylene and how is it used?
A xylene is any of a group of very similar organic compounds. They
are clear liquids with a sweet odor. The greatest use of xylenes is
as a solvent which is much safer than benzene. Other uses include:
in gasoline as part of the BTX component (benzene-toluene-xylene);
Xylene mixtures are used to make phthalate plasticizers, polyester
fiber, film and fabricated items.
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:
Dimethyl benzene
Xylol
Methyltoluene
Violet 3
Why is Xylene 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 xylenes has been set at 10 parts per million (ppm)
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 10 ppm 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 xylenes to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: disturbances
of cognitive abilities, balance, and coordination.
Long-term: Xylenes has the potential to cause the following effects
from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to the
central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
How much Xylene is produced and released to the environment?
Production of xylenes was 6.84 billion lbs. in 1993. Major
environmental releases of xylenes are due to evaporation from the
refining and use of petroleum products. It may also be released by
leaks or spills during the transport and storage of gasoline and
other fuels. Xylenes are a natural products of many plants, and are
a component of petroleum and coal tar.
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemical Release
Inventory, xylene releases to land and water totalled nearly 4.8
billion lbs. These releases were primarily from petroleum refining
industries. The largest releases occurred in Texas. The largest
direct releases to water occurred in New Jersey and Georgia.
What happens to Xylene when it is released to the environment?
Most of the xylenes are released into the atmosphere where they are
quickly degraded by sunlight. When released to soil or water,
xylenes will quickly evaporate. They may leach into ground water
and persist there for several years. There is little potential for
accumulation in aquatic life.
How will Xylene be Detected in and Removed from My Drinking Water?
The regulation for xylenes became effective in 1992. 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 xylenes
is present above 0.5 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 xylenes
so that it is consistently below that level. The following
treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing xylenes:
Granular activated charcoal in combination with Packed Tower
Aeration.
How will I know if Xylene is in my drinking water?
If the levels of xylenes exceed the MCL, 10 ppm, 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.
Drinking Water Standards:
Mclg: 10 ppm
Mcl: 10 ppm
Xylene Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):
| Water | Land |
TOTALS (in pounds) | 875,943 | 3,897,738 |
Top Ten States* |
---|
TX | 30,853 | 2,099,734
|
NJ | 294,437 | 280,759
|
IL | 36 | 206,990
|
IN | 0 | 145,079
|
AL | 34,361 | 59,022
|
CA | 0 | 91,500
|
MI | 0 | 86,774
|
GA | 68,310 | 15,000
|
VA | 50,100 | 33,000
|
WA | 27,860 | 52,360
|
Major Industries* |
---|
Petroleum refining | 131,817 | 2,678,958
|
Metal barrels, drums | 5 | 289,542
|
Textile finishing, misc. | 278,454 | 0
|
Misc. Industrial chems. | 95,706 | 69,696
|
Extruded Aluminum prod. | 1,265 | 138,798
|
Furniture, fixtures | 0 | 91,500
|
Cotton fabric finishing | 68,310 | 15,000
|
Wood office furniture | 0 | 67,677
|
Pharmaceuticals | 52,285 | 3,100
|
Paper mills | 52,480 | 2,122
|
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater
than a certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 lbs.
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking
water, and to support local efforts to protect and upgrade the
supply of safe drinking water. Your water bill or telephone books
government listings are a good starting point.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the chemicals they
test for in your water, as well as how your water is treated.
Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a valuable
source of information.
For help in locating these agencies or for information on drinking
water in general, call: EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800)
426-4791.
For additional information on the uses and releases of chemicals in
your state, contact the: Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.
List of Contaminants
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