Definitions for "Organic Contaminants"
Carbon-based chemicals, such as solvents and pesticides, which can get into water through runoff from cropland or discharge from factories. EPA has set legal limits on 56 organic contaminants.
There are two types of organic contaminants, including volatile and synthetic. The volatile organic chemicals include acrylamide, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, p-dichlorobenzene, 1.2-dichloroethane, 1.1-dichloroethylene, cis- and trans-1.2 dichloroethylene, dichloromethane, 1.2-dichloropropane, xylenes, epichlorohydrin, ethylbenzene, styrene, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, 1.2.4-tricholorobenzene, 1.1.1-tricholorethane, 1.1.2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. The synthetic organic chemicals include adipate, alachlor, aldicarb/aldicarb metabolites, atrazine, benzo(a)pyrene, carbofuran, chlordane, 2.4-D, dalapon, dibromochloropropane, dinoseb, dioxin (2.3.7.8-TCDD), diquat, endothall, endrin, ethylene dibromide, glyphosate, heptachlor/heptachlor epoxide, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, lindane, methoxychior, oxamyl, pentachlorophenol, phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl), picloram, polychlorinated biphenyls, simazine, toxaphene, 2.4.5-TP.
Carbon-based chemicals, such as solvents and pesticides, which can enter drinking water supplies through runoff from cropland, discharges from industrial operations, underground tanks, spills and other sources.