Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides

Advanced testing methods now allow pesticides to be detected in water at very low levels. These small amounts of pesticides detected in drinking water or source water for drinking water do not necessarily indicate a health risk. The EPA has developed human health benchmarks for approximately 350 pesticides to enable our partners to better determine whether the detection of a pesticide in drinking water or source waters for drinking water may indicate a potential health risk.

The table below includes benchmarks for acute (one-day) and chronic (lifetime) exposures for the most sensitive populations from exposure to pesticides that may be found in surface or ground water sources of drinking water. Concentrations of pesticides in drinking water that have the potential for cancer risk are not currently included in the HHBP table. However, EPA intends to include these concentrations later. The HHBP table includes pesticide active ingredients for which Health Advisories or enforceable National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (e.g., maximum contaminant levels) have not been developed. View Drinking Water Health Advisories

These HHBP values are provided to help states interpret drinking water monitoring data. If a water sample exceeds an HHBP, the state should consider how frequently the HHBP is exceeded and the magnitude of the exceedance in other samples. Such information may be helpful for states to determine how to respond to monitoring results and prioritize resources.

Select columns to search Go Rows1510152025305010020050010005000All Common Name and Reference Document CAS Number Acute RfD (mg/kg/day) Acute One Day HHBP(ppb) Acute Reference Population Chronic RfD (mg/kg/day) Chronic/Lifetime HHBP(ppb) Chronic Reference Population 1,2,4-Triazole 288-88-0 0.030 300 Children 0.005 35 General Population 2, 4 - DB DMA 2758-42-1 0.600 19800 Females 13-49 years 0.030 210 General Population 2, 4 - DBA 94-82-6 0.600 19800 Females 13-49 years 0.030 210 General Population 2,4-DP-p Salts & Esters 15165-67-0 0.050 500 Children 0.036 252 General Population 2,6-Dichlorobenzamide (BAM) 2008-58-4 0.030 990 Females 13-49 years 0.0045 32 General Population ADBAC 68424-85-1 - - 0.440 3080 General Population Abamectin 71751-41-2, 65195-55-3 0.005 50 Children 0.0004 3 General Population Acephate 30560-19-1 0.005 50 Children 0.0012 8 General Population Acequinocyl 57960-19-7 - - 0.027 189 General Population Acetamiprid 135410-20-7 0.100 1000 Children 0.071 497 General Population Acetochlor 34256-82-1 0.150 1500 Children 0.020 140 General Population Acibenzolar-methyl 135158-54-2 0.082 2706 Females 13-49 years 0.082 541 Females 13-49 years Aluminum phosphide 20859-73-8 0.018 180 Children 0.0113 79 General Population Amicarbazone 129909-90-6 0.100 1000 Children 0.0230 161 General Population Aminocyclopyrachlor 858956-08-8, 858956-35-1, 858954-83-3, 124423-84-3, 1759-53-1 - - 0.350 2450 General Population 1 - 15 of 352

a Formula for deriving Acute HHBP = [aRfD (mg/kg bw/day) x BW (kg) x 1000 (µg/mg)] / [Drinking Water Intake (L/day)] where BW=10 kg for children and 66 kg for females 13-49 years and Drinking Water Intake = 1L/day for children and 2L/day for females 13-49 years

b Formula for deriving Chronic HHBP = [cRfD (mg/kg bw/day) x BW (kg) x 1000 (µg/mg) x 0.2 RSC ] / [Drinking Water Intake (L/day)] where BW=70 kg for general population and 66 kg for females 13-49 years and Drinking Water Intake = 2L/day for general population as well as for females 13-49 years and RSC = Relative Source Contribution assumed as 20%

c For pesticide registration, an additional 10x FQPA factor is applied, which is not included in the RfD and HHBP calculations.

d For pesticide registration, an additional 3x FQPA factor is applied, which is not included in the RfD and HHBP calculations.