The list of parameters include specific contaminants along with other physical, and biological risk factors to drinking water resources. A description of the factor, along with information on where it comes from, and its potential human and environmental health impacts is given in the table. If additional information is available from other sources, a link is provided.

 

Potential Contaminant	Contamination Source	Health Standard	Human and Environmental Effects
Alachlor	Comes from agricultural soil runoff to surface water or groundwater; no natural sources; also known as Lasso.	0.002 mg/l MCL	Possible human carcinogen (causes cancer in lab animals); also damages liver, kidney, eyes, spleen, and causes birth defects. Moderately toxic to aquatic invertebrates and fish; slightly toxic to waterfowl; breaks down in environment.
Aldicarb	Can migrate to groundwater generally at low levels. No natural sources; breaks down quickly in surface water. Also known as Temik.	0.003 mg/l MCL	Although side effects are reversible can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and convulsions. Affects the nervous system.
Aldicarb Sulfoxide	Produced by plants from Aldicarb and moves easily to groundwater.	0.004 mg/l MCL	See Aldicarb above for similar side effects but is slightly more potent. Effects are reversible.
Aldicarb Sulfone	Produced by plants from Aldicarb and moves easily to groundwater. Breaks down rather quickly in surface water.	0.002 mg/l MCL	See Aldicarb above for similar side effects but is slightly less potent. Effects are reversible.
Atrazine	Generally comes from agricultural runoff; agricultural herbicide.	0.003 mg/l MCL	Classified as a possible human carcinogen but in animal studies causes damage to liver, kidney, and heart, causes tremors and changes organ weights. Low toxicity to mammals, birds, fish; many aquatic organisms susceptible at levels less than 10 mg/l; tends to bioaccumulate.
Benzo(a)pyrene	Cigarette smoke.	0.0002 mg/l MCL
Carbofuran	Used agriculturally; no natural sources.	0.04 mg/l MCL	In humans can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and convulsions but effects are reversible. Affects the nervous system.
Chlordane	A pesticide no longer used in the U.S. Moves easily into water supplies if applied near wells/water intakes; no natural sources.	0.002 mg/l MCL	In animal studies has been proven to cause damage to the liver and central nervous system; possible human carcinogen; irritates eyes, skin; may cause nausea, blurred vision, convulsions, if exposed to; can accumulate in fish and other organisms.
Dalapon	Moves easily to groundwater through dry, sandy soils but can be broken down by soil microorganisms. No natural sources.	0.2 mg/l MCL	In animal studies causes damage to liver, kidneys, and slows reflexes.
Dibromo-chloropropane	Used as a pesticide and moves easily through soil to groundwater and very persistent. Is expected to vaporize from surface water. Also known as DBCP or Nemafume.	0.0002 mg/l MCL	Linked to acute and chronic toxic effects in animals and lower sperm counts in humans. Possible human carcinogen. Can damage liver, kidneys, and testes in lab animals.
Di(2-ethylhexyl)- adipate	Plasticizers	0.4 mg/l MCL
Di(2-ethylhexyl)- phthalate	Plasticizers	0.006 mg/l MCL
Dinoseb	In agricultural runoff, moves easily through soil to surface water and groundwater; no natural sources; herbicide; desiccant; dormant fruit spray; use has been suspended.	0.007 mg/l MCL	In animal studies shown to cause low fertility, birth defects, decreased sperm count, low fetal weight/survival, and weight changes in liver and thyroid.
Diquat	No natural sources.	0.02 mg/l MCL	Animal studies indicate it causes damage to liver, kidneys, lungs, and intestinal tract and also cataract formation.
Endothall	No natural sources; used as herbicide, defoliant, aquatic algicide, and growth regulator.	0.1 mg/l MCL	Ingestion may cause serious intestinal inflammation, damage to liver, kidneys, intestinal tract, and reproductive system; also can be very irritating to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. May be degraded by microorganisms.
Ethylene dibromide	No natural sources; pesticides, soil fumigants; leaded gasoline additives.	0.00005 mg/l MCL	In lab animals causes cancer, damage to liver, kidney, testes, chromosomes, genetic mutations; possible human carcinogen.
Glyphosate	No natural sources.	0.7 mg/l MCL	Only in high doses could cause damage to liver, kidneys, adverse reproductive effects but is low in toxicity; does not bioaccumulate; generally not toxic to birds, fish, and mammals.
Heptachlor	Insecticides; hazardous waste sites; no natural sources.	0.0004 mg/l MCL	In lab animals causes damage to liver and chromosomes. Can enter body via skin, inhalation, ingestion; possible human carcinogen; associated with stillbirths, blood disorders in humans.
Heptachlor Epoxide	Transformed from Heptachlor (see above); also common contaminant in foods at low levels.	0.0002 mg/l MCL	Causes cancer in lab animals; possible human carcinogen.
Hexachlorobenzene	Waste product of chemical manufacturing; used as fungicide and wood preservative;	0.001 mg/l MCL	Causes cancer in lab animals and damage to liver, kidneys, and ovaries; probable human carcinogen; dermal contact causes sever photosensitivity; bioaccumulates in fish and animal tissues.
Hexachlorocyclo-pentadiene	Used in manufacture of pesticides, and flame retardants.	0.05 mg/l MCL	Animal studies show it can cause damage to stomach, kidneys, and weight loss.
Lindane	Used as pesticides of various forms; not likely found in ground or drinking waters; not likely to move in soil; no natural sources.	0.0002 mg/l MCL	Can be exposed via skin, inhalation, ingestion; damages liver, kidneys, nervous/immune/circulatory systems; possible human carcinogen.
Methoxychlor	Used as pesticide in agriculture and on dairy cattle; also comes from improper waste disposal.	0.04 mg/l MCL	Causes damage to liver, kidneys, nervous and circulatory systems; evidence for carcinogencity inconclusive.
Oxamyl (vydate)		0.2 mg/l MCL
Pentachlorophenol	Used as pesticide to control fungi and bacteria; not very widespread.	0.001 mg/l MCL	Animal studies show it can be absorbed through skin and causes damage to liver, kidneys, slow fetal development and possible genetic mutations.
Picloram	Used as herbicide to control abundant plant growth; no natural sources.	0.5 mg/l MCL	Animal studies indicate related to damage to liver, thyroid, testes, kidneys, and arteries.
Polychlorinated biphenyls	Used in electrical transformers and capacitors, lacquers, paints, varnishes, lubricants, and carbonless paper.	0.0005 mg/l MCL	Very toxic mixture which affects skin, liver, nervous system, digestive tract; likely human carcinogen (causes cancer in lab animals. Linked to deformities in wildlife and commonly detected in tissues and eggs of fish-eating birds.
Simazine	Herbicide; no natural sources.	0.004 mg/l MCL	Causes contact dermatitis; animal studies show weight loss, tremors, abortions, decreased motor control/activity; possible human carcinogen; very toxic if inhaled; low toxicity to aquatic life.
Toxaphene	No natural sources. Use canceled in U.S.; found in dairy cows milk.	0.003 mg/l MCL	Causes damage to liver, kidneys, nervous system; can be absorbed through skin; causes cancer in lab animals; likely human carcinogen; an irritant when absorbed through skin or eyes; very little found in drinking water; bioconcentrates in aquatic organisms
2,3,7,8,-TCDD (dioxin)	Found primarily in herbicides. Can be generated as byproduct of paper and pulp mill bleaching processes; as combustion products by industrial incinerators.	3x10-8	Known to cause liver damage, gastric ulcers, severe weight loss, reproductive problems; stored in liver and fat; highly toxic and strong carcinogen in animals; most common human effect found is chloracne; Highly lipophilic and rapidly bioaccumulates in fatty tissues of aquatic organisms.
2,4-D	Agricultural herbicide; aquatic weed herbicide; no natural sources.	0.07 mg/l MCL	Animals studies show causes damage to liver, kidneys, changes in blood, low fetal weight, digestive tract irritations; insufficient data to classify as carcinogen; dermal exposure poses risks.
2,4,5-TP (Silvex)	No longer in use in U.S.	0.05 mg/l MCL	Causes irritation to eyes, skin and mucous membranes; damages liver, kidneys, and nervous system; accumulates in fat and liver.

Institute of Water Research - MSU
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