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CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances

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The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) section 104 (i), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list, in order of priority, of substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL) and which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure at these NPL sites. CERCLA also requires this list to be revised periodically to reflect additional information on hazardous substances.

Contents

What is the CERCLA List?

This CERCLA priority list is revised and published on a 2-year basis, with a yearly informal review and revision. Each substance on the CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances is a candidate to become the subject of a toxicological profile prepared by ATSDR and subsequently a candidate for the identification of priority data needs. This priority list is based on an algorithm that utilizes the following three components: frequency of occurrence at NPL sites, toxicity, and potential for human exposure to the substances found at NPL sites. This algorithm utilizes data from ATSDR's HazDat database, which contains information from ATSDR's public health assessments and health consultations.

It should be noted that this priority list is not a list of "most toxic" substances, but rather a prioritization of substances based on a combination of their frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at NPL sites.

Thus, it is possible for substances with low toxicity but high NPL frequency of occurrence and exposure to be on this priority list. The objective of this priority list is to rank substances across all NPL hazardous waste sites to provide guidance in selecting which substances will be the subject of toxicological profiles prepared by ATSDR.

There is a Support Document to the CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances that describes in detail how the list is developed. This support document also contains an appendix showing the breakdown of the total scores for each substance on the priority list. To view this support document, click here.

To view the current CERCLA Priority list, click here.

Related information

The ATSDR Division of Toxicology has prepared several sets of publications that provide answers to many health concerns that are voiced by community groups and give general information on various properties of each of these substances. Those publications are listed and may be accessed online at the following links:

  • ATSDR ToxFAQs™ Sheets
  • ATSDR Public Health Statements
  • ATSDR Toxicological Profiles

You may also access the previous lists online:

  • CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 2007
  • CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 2005
  • CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 2003
  • CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 2001
  • CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 1999
  • CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances for 1997

Contact Information

Further information can be obtained by contacting the ATSDR Information Center at:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1- 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348
Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

2007 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances

2007 RANK SUBSTANCE NAME TOTAL POINTS 2005 RANK CAS #
1 ARSENIC 1672.58 1 007440-38-2
2 LEAD 1534.07 2 007439-92-1
3 MERCURY 1504.69 3 007439-97-6
4 VINYL CHLORIDE 1387.75 4 000075-01-4
5 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 1365.78 5 001336-36-3
6 BENZENE 1355.96 6 000071-43-2
7 CADMIUM 1324.22 8 007440-43-9
8 POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS 1316.98 7 130498-29-2
9 BENZO(A)PYRENE 1312.45 9 000050-32-8
10 BENZO(B)FLUORANTHENE 1266.55 10 000205-99-2
11 CHLOROFORM 1223.03 11 000067-66-3
12 DDT, P,P'- 1193.36 12 000050-29-3
13 AROCLOR 1254 1182.63 13 011097-69-1
14 AROCLOR 1260 1177.77 14 011096-82-5
15 DIBENZO(A,H)ANTHRACENE 1165.88 15 000053-70-3
16 TRICHLOROETHYLENE 1154.73 16 000079-01-6
17 DIELDRIN 1150.91 17 000060-57-1
18 CHROMIUM, HEXAVALENT 1149.98 18 018540-29-9
19 PHOSPHORUS , WHITE 1144.77 19 007723-14-0
20 CHLORDANE 1133.21 21 000057-74-9
21 DDE, P,P'- 1132.49 20 000072-55-9
22 HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE 1129.63 22 000087-68-3
23 COAL TAR CREOSOTE 1124.32 23 008001-58-9
24 ALDRIN 1117.22 25 000309-00-2
25 DDD, P,P'- 1114.83 24 000072-54-8
26 BENZIDINE 1114.24 26 000092-87-5
27 AROCLOR 1248 1112.20 27 012672-29-6
28 CYANIDE 1099.48 28 000057-12-5
29 AROCLOR 1242 1093.14 29 053469-21-9
30 AROCLOR 1091.52 62 012767-79-2
31 TOXAPHENE 1086.65 30 008001-35-2
32 HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE, GAMMA- 1081.63 32 000058-89-9
33 TETRACHLOROETHYLENE 1080.43 31 000127-18-4
34 HEPTACHLOR 1072.67 33 000076-44-8
35 1,2-DIBROMOETHANE 1064.06 34 000106-93-4
36 HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE, BETA- 1060.22 37 000319-85-7
37 ACROLEIN 1059.07 36 000107-02-8
38 DISULFOTON 1058.85 35 000298-04-4
39 BENZO(A)ANTHRACENE 1057.96 38 000056-55-3
40 3,3'-DICHLOROBENZIDINE 1051.61 39 000091-94-1
41 ENDRIN 1048.57 41 000072-20-8
42 BERYLLIUM 1046.12 40 007440-41-7
43 HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE, DELTA- 1038.27 42 000319-86-8
44 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE 1035.55 43 000096-12-8
45 PENTACHLOROPHENOL 1028.01 45 000087-86-5
46 HEPTACHLOR EPOXIDE 1027.12 44 001024-57-3
47 CARBON TETRACHLORIDE 1023.32 46 000056-23-5
48 AROCLOR 1221 1018.41 47 011104-28-2
49 COBALT 1015.57 50 007440-48-4
50 DDT, O,P'- 1014.71 49 000789-02-6
51 AROCLOR 1016 1014.33 48 012674-11-2
52 DI-N-BUTYL PHTHALATE 1007.49 52 000084-74-2
53 NICKEL 1005.40 55 007440-02-0
54 ENDOSULFAN 1004.65 54 000115-29-7
55 ENDOSULFAN SULFATE 1003.56 53 001031-07-8
56 DIAZINON 1002.08 57 000333-41-5
57 ENDOSULFAN, ALPHA 1001.30 58 000959-98-8
58 XYLENES, TOTAL 996.07 59 001330-20-7
59 CIS-CHLORDANE 995.08 51 005103-71-9
60 DIBROMOCHLOROPROPANE 994.87 60 067708-83-2
61 METHOXYCHLOR 994.47 61 000072-43-5
62 BENZO(K)FLUORANTHENE 981.26 63 000207-08-9
63 ENDRIN KETONE 978.99 64 053494-70-5
64 TRANS-CHLORDANE 973.99 56 005103-74-2
65 CHROMIUM(VI) OXIDE 969.58 66 001333-82-0
66 METHANE 959.78 67 000074-82-8
67 ENDOSULFAN, BETA 959.19 65 033213-65-9
68 AROCLOR 1232 955.64 68 011141-16-5
69 ENDRIN ALDEHYDE 954.86 69 007421-93-4
70 BENZOFLUORANTHENE 951.48 70 056832-73-6
71 TOLUENE 947.50 71 000108-88-3
72 2-HEXANONE 942.02 72 000591-78-6
73 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN 938.11 73 001746-01-6
74 ZINC 932.89 74 007440-66-6
75 DIMETHYLARSINIC ACID 922.06 75 000075-60-5
76 DI(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE 919.02 76 000117-81-7
77 CHROMIUM 908.52 77 007440-47-3
78 NAPHTHALENE 896.67 78 000091-20-3
79 1,1-DICHLOROETHENE 891.19 79 000075-35-4
80 METHYLENE CHLORIDE 888.96 81 000075-09-2
81 AROCLOR 1240 888.11 80 071328-89-7
82 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE 883.59 82 000118-96-7
83 BROMODICHLOROETHANE 870.00 83 000683-53-4
84 HYDRAZINE 864.41 85 000302-01-2
85 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE 863.99 84 000107-06-2
86 2,4,6-TRICHLOROPHENOL 863.71 86 000088-06-2
87 2,4-DINITROPHENOL 860.45 87 000051-28-5
88 BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL) ETHER 859.88 88 000111-44-4
89 THIOCYANATE 849.21 89 000302-04-5
90 ASBESTOS 841.54 90 001332-21-4
91 CHLORINE 840.37 92 007782-50-5
92 CYCLOTRIMETHYLENETRINITRAMINE (RDX) 840.28 91 000121-82-4
93 HEXACHLOROBENZENE 838.34 93 000118-74-1
94 2,4-DINITROTOLUENE 837.88 96 000121-14-2
95 RADIUM-226 835.93 94 013982-63-3
96 ETHION 834.03 97 000563-12-2
97 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE 833.81 95 000071-55-6
98 URANIUM 833.41 98 007440-61-1
99 ETHYLBENZENE 832.13 99 000100-41-4
100 RADIUM 828.07 100 007440-14-4
101 THORIUM 825.17 101 007440-29-1
102 4,6-DINITRO-O-CRESOL 822.78 102 000534-52-1
103 1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE 820.17 103 000099-35-4
104 CHLOROBENZENE 819.69 105 000108-90-7
105 RADON 817.89 104 010043-92-2
106 RADIUM-228 816.76 106 015262-20-1
107 THORIUM-230 814.72 107 014269-63-7
107 URANIUM-235 814.72 107 015117-96-1
109 BARIUM 813.46 109 007440-39-3
110 FLUORANTHENE 812.40 113 000206-44-0
111 URANIUM-234 812.11 110 013966-29-5
112 N-NITROSODI-N-PROPYLAMINE 811.05 111 000621-64-7
113 THORIUM-228 810.36 112 014274-82-9
114 RADON-222 809.78 114 014859-67-7
115 HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE, ALPHA- 809.56 116 000319-84-6
116 1,2,3-TRICHLOROBENZENE 808.41 143 000087-61-6
117 MANGANESE 807.90 115 007439-96-5
118 COAL TARS 807.07 117 008007-45-2
119 CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS 806.68 119 012001-29-5
119 STRONTIUM-90 806.68 119 010098-97-2
121 PLUTONIUM-239 806.67 118 015117-48-3
122 POLONIUM-210 806.39 122 013981-52-7
123 METHYLMERCURY 806.39 121 022967-92-6
124 PLUTONIUM-238 806.01 123 013981-16-3
125 LEAD-210 805.90 124 014255-04-0
126 PLUTONIUM 805.23 125 007440-07-5
127 CHLORPYRIFOS 804.93 125 002921-88-2
128 COPPER 804.86 133 007440-50-8
129 AMERICIUM-241 804.55 128 086954-36-1
130 RADON-220 804.54 127 022481-48-7
131 AMOSITE ASBESTOS 804.07 129 012172-73-5
132 IODINE-131 803.48 130 010043-66-0
133 HYDROGEN CYANIDE 803.08 132 000074-90-8
134 TRIBUTYLTIN 802.61 131 000688-73-3
135 GUTHION 802.32 134 000086-50-0
136 NEPTUNIUM-237 802.13 135 013994-20-2
137 CHRYSENE 802.10 139 000218-01-9
138 CHLORDECONE 801.64 136 000143-50-0
138 IODINE-129 801.64 136 015046-84-1
138 PLUTONIUM-240 801.64 136 014119-33-6
141 S,S,S-TRIBUTYL PHOSPHOROTRITHIOATE 797.88 140 000078-48-8
142 BROMINE 789.15 142 007726-95-6
143 POLYBROMINATED BIPHENYLS 789.11 141 067774-32-7
144 DICOFOL 787.56 144 000115-32-2
145 PARATHION 784.14 145 000056-38-2
146 1,1,2,2-TETRACHLOROETHANE 782.15 146 000079-34-5
147 SELENIUM 778.98 147 007782-49-2
148 HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE, TECHNICAL GRADE 774.91 148 000608-73-1
149 TRICHLOROFLUOROETHANE 770.74 149 027154-33-2
150 TRIFLURALIN 770.12 150 001582-09-8
151 DDD, O,P'- 768.73 151 000053-19-0
152 4,4'-METHYLENEBIS(2-CHLOROANILINE) 766.66 152 000101-14-4
153 HEXACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN 760.42 153 034465-46-8
154 HEPTACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN 754.47 154 037871-00-4
155 PENTACHLOROBENZENE 753.58 155 000608-93-5
156 1,3-BUTADIENE 747.31 201 000106-99-0
157 AMMONIA 745.55 156 007664-41-7
158 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE 743.24 157 000091-57-6
159 1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE 737.32 159 000106-46-7
160 1,1-DICHLOROETHANE 736.23 158 000075-34-3
161 ACENAPHTHENE 731.25 160 000083-32-9
162 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCTACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 726.14 161 039001-02-0
163 1,1,2-TRICHLOROETHANE 724.96 162 000079-00-5
164 TRICHLOROETHANE 723.32 163 025323-89-1
165 HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE 719.01 164 000077-47-4
166 HEPTACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 718.58 165 038998-75-3
167 1,2-DIPHENYLHYDRAZINE 713.90 166 000122-66-7
168 2,3,4,7,8-PENTACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 710.71 167 057117-31-4
169 TETRACHLOROBIPHENYL 709.21 168 026914-33-0
170 CRESOL, PARA- 707.83 169 000106-44-5
171 OXYCHLORDANE 706.32 170 027304-13-8
172 1,2-DICHLOROBENZENE 704.91 171 000095-50-1
173 1,2-DICHLOROETHENE, TRANS- 704.04 178 000156-60-5
174 INDENO(1,2,3-CD)PYRENE 703.30 180 000193-39-5
175 GAMMA-CHLORDENE 702.59 172 056641-38-4
176 CARBON DISULFIDE 702.55 174 000075-15-0
177 TETRACHLOROPHENOL 702.54 173 025167-83-3
178 AMERICIUM 701.62 175 007440-35-9
178 URANIUM-233 701.62 175 013968-55-3
180 PALLADIUM 700.66 177 007440-05-3
181 HEXACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 700.56 179 055684-94-1
182 PHENOL 696.96 183 000108-95-2
183 CHLOROETHANE 693.90 182 000075-00-3
184 ACETONE 693.31 181 000067-64-1
185 P-XYLENE 690.20 185 000106-42-3
186 DIBENZOFURAN 689.19 187 000132-64-9
187 ALUMINUM 688.13 186 007429-90-5
188 2,4-DIMETHYLPHENOL 685.76 189 000105-67-9
189 CARBON MONOXIDE 684.49 188 000630-08-0
190 TETRACHLOROETHANE 677.97 190 025322-20-7
191 HYDROGEN SULFIDE 676.51 193 007783-06-4
192 PENTACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 673.21 192 030402-15-4
193 CHLOROMETHANE 670.19 191 000074-87-3
194 BIS(2-METHOXYETHYL) PHTHALATE 666.08 194 034006-76-3
195 BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE 659.38 195 000085-68-7
196 CRESOL, ORTHO- 658.66 196 000095-48-7
197 HEXACHLOROETHANE 653.10 199 000067-72-1
198 VANADIUM 651.70 198 007440-62-2
199 N-NITROSODIMETHYLAMINE 650.71 200 000062-75-9
200 1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE 647.30 203 000120-82-1
201 BROMOFORM 643.53 202 000075-25-2
202 TETRACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN 635.74 204 041903-57-5
203 1,3-DICHLOROBENZENE 631.41 205 000541-73-1
204 PENTACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN 625.12 207 036088-22-9
205 N-NITROSODIPHENYLAMINE 624.79 208 000086-30-6
206 1,2-DICHLOROETHYLENE 622.49 206 000540-59-0
207 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 622.15 210 051207-31-9
208 2-BUTANONE 620.01 209 000078-93-3
209 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOL 616.45 212 000120-83-2
210 1,4-DIOXANE 616.29 215 000123-91-1
211 FLUORINE 613.28 214 007782-41-4
212 NITRITE 612.64 216 014797-65-0
213 CESIUM-137 612.50 217 010045-97-3
214 SILVER 612.19 213 007440-22-4
215 CHROMIUM TRIOXIDE 610.85 218 007738-94-5
216 NITRATE 610.66 219 014797-55-8
217 POTASSIUM-40 608.91 220 013966-00-2
218 DINITROTOLUENE 607.65 221 025321-14-6
219 ANTIMONY 605.37 222 007440-36-0
220 COAL TAR PITCH 605.33 224 065996-93-2
221 THORIUM-227 605.32 223 015623-47-9
222 2,4,5-TRICHLOROPHENOL 604.83 225 000095-95-4
223 ARSENIC ACID 604.45 226 007778-39-4
224 ARSENIC TRIOXIDE 604.36 227 001327-53-3
225 PHORATE 603.10 228 000298-02-2
226 BENZOPYRENE 603.00 230 073467-76-2
227 CRESOLS 602.74 229 001319-77-3
228 CHLORDANE, TECHNICAL 602.62 231 012789-03-6
229 DIMETHOATE 602.61 232 000060-51-5
230 ACTINIUM-227 602.57 233 014952-40-0
230 STROBANE 602.57 233 008001-50-1
232 4-AMINOBIPHENYL 602.51 235 000092-67-1
232 PYRETHRUM 602.51 235 008003-34-7
234 ARSINE 602.42 237 007784-42-1
235 NALED 602.32 238 000300-76-5
236 DIBENZOFURANS, CHLORINATED 602.13 239 042934-53-2
236 ETHOPROP 602.13 239 013194-48-4
238 ALPHA-CHLORDENE 601.94 241 056534-02-2
238 CARBOPHENOTHION 601.94 241 000786-19-6
240 DICHLORVOS 601.64 243 000062-73-7
241 CALCIUM ARSENATE 601.45 244 007778-44-1
241 MERCURIC CHLORIDE 601.45 244 007487-94-7
241 SODIUM ARSENITE 601.45 244 007784-46-5
244 FORMALDEHYDE 599.64 247 000050-00-0
245 2-CHLOROPHENOL 599.62 248 000095-57-8
246 PHENANTHRENE 597.68 249 000085-01-8
247 HYDROGEN FLUORIDE 588.03 250 007664-39-3
248 2,4-D ACID 584.47 251 000094-75-7
249 DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE 580.59 252 000124-48-1
250 DIURON 579.16 253 000330-54-1
251 BUTYLATE 578.43 254 002008-41-5
252 DIMETHYL FORMAMIDE 578.23 255 000068-12-2
253 PYRENE 577.95 256 000129-00-0
254 DICHLOROBENZENE 577.70 211 025321-22-6
255 ETHYL ETHER 572.47 257 000060-29-7
256 DICHLOROETHANE 570.46 258 001300-21-6
257 4-NITROPHENOL 567.79 259 000100-02-7
258 1,3-DICHLOROPROPENE, CIS- 561.82 184 010061-01-5
259 PHOSPHINE 559.74 260 007803-51-2
260 TRICHLOROBENZENE 557.96 261 012002-48-1
261 2,6-DINITROTOLUENE 555.20 262 000606-20-2
262 FLUORIDE ION 549.64 263 016984-48-8
263 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HEPTACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN 547.90 264 035822-46-9
264 METHYL PARATHION 545.83 265 000298-00-0
265 PENTAERYTHRITOL TETRANITRATE 545.59 266 000078-11-5
266 1,3-DICHLOROPROPENE, TRANS- 543.37 267 010061-02-6
267 BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL)ADIPATE 540.20 268 000103-23-1
268 CARBAZOLE 534.52 269 000086-74-8
269 METHYL ISOBUTYL KETONE 533.24 271 000108-10-1
270 1,2-DICHLOROETHENE, CIS- 533.15 270 000156-59-2
271 STYRENE 532.70 272 000100-42-5
272 CARBARYL 530.98 273 000063-25-2
273 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HEPTACHLORODIBENZOFURAN 529.45 274 067562-39-4
274 ACRYLONITRILE 528.28 275 000107-13-1
275 1-METHYLNAPHTHALENE 526.51 NEW

Substances were assigned the same rank when two (or more) substances received equivalent total point scores.

CAS #= Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number

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