Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

Granular activated carbon is a highly adsorbent material used to remove contamination from water. Activated carbon has been known as a miracle filter media by many researchers because of its unique ability to remove offensive tastes, odors, color, chlorine and volatile organic chemicals, pesticides and trihalomethanes (a group of suspected carcinogens). Briefly, activated carbon acts like a sponge, with a large surface area to absorb contaminants in the water. The surface area of one pound of activated carbon is equal to 125 acres. Many scientists believe this is a result of an affinity that these chemicals have for carbon because of Van Der Waal forces. Activated carbon is the preferred treatment and method recommended by the EPA to remove a host of potentially hazardous and possibly carcinogenic chemicals in drinking water. A partial list of chemicals that are reduced or removed by activated carbon are: 

The chart shows partial contaminants regulated for public water systems by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the maximum contaminant levels, source, health effects and treatment options for each.

Organic
MCL
Source/Industrial occurrence
Health effect
Treatment
 Chlorobenzene
0.1
Used as a solvent for paint and metal manufacturing. Also used in insecticides.
Affects nervous system, kidneys and liver.
Activated carbon
CIS-1,2  Dichloroethylene
0.07
Used as an industrial solvent in the manufacturing of dyes, perfumes  and lacquers
Affects liver, and a nervous and circulatory systems. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Dibromochloropropane
0.0002
Soil fumigant on soybeans, and cotton. Canceled in 1997.
Cancer
Activated carbon
Dioxin
0.00000003
Chemical production by-product; impurity in herbicides.
Affects lungs, liver and kidney. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Epichlorohydrin
0
Used in epoxy resins and coating, and in flocculants.
Affects nervous system, kidney and liver.
Activated carbon
Ethlbenzene
0.7
Used in the manufacture of gasoline, insecticides and  asphalt
Probable cause of cancer
Activated carbon
Ethylene Dibromide
0.00005
Used as a gasoline additive and soil fumigant.
Affects nervous system, kidneys and liver.
Activated carbon
Monochlorobenzene
0.01
Used in manufacture of pesticides and as a metal cleaner and industrial solvent.
Cancer
Activated carbon
PAHs
0.0002
Coal tar coating, burnings organic matter, volcanoes, fossil fuels.
Cancer
Activated carbon
Phthalate (di(2-ethylhexyl))
0.006
PVC and other plastics.
Affects skin and liver. Causes nausea. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Polychlorinated Biophenyts (PCBs)
0.0005
Used in electrical transformers.
Affect nervous system, kidneys and liver.
Activated carbon
Styrene
0.01
Used in manufacturing plastic, resins and foams.
Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer and anesthesia
Activated carbon
Tetrachloroethylene
0.005
Used in dry cleaning and as a degreasing agent for metals. Also used for manufacturing rubber, waxes, paints and inks.
Affects nervous system, liver and kidneys. Causes narcosis. Irritant to respiratory system.
Activated carbon
Toluene
1
Used in gasoline, paint thinners, lacquers and adhesives.
Cancer
Activated carbon, ozonation

0.01
Formed when water containing organic matter is treated with chlorine.
Affects nervous system and muscles. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon, aeration, ultra filtration (20-90%), RO (20-90%)
1,1 Dichloroethylene
0.007
Used in manufacturing dyes, plastic, perfumes, paints and adhesives
Affects kidneys and liver and can cause nausea.
Activated carbon
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
0.005
Solvent in rubber products, chemical production waste.
Kidney, liver, nervous system damage
Activated carbon, aeration
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
0.02
Used in manufacturing of pesticides, plastic and metals.
Affects nervous system. Causes narcosis and probably cancer.
Activated carbon
1,2 Dichlorobenzene
0.6
Used in the manufacturing of fumigants, insecticides, waxes, resins, rubber and asphalt
Affects lungs, liver and kidneys.
Activated carbon
1,2 Dichloroethane
0.005
Used in the manufacturing of gasoline, paint, varnish, metal degreasers and insecticide fumigants
Damage kidney and liver can cause nausea
Activated carbon
1,2 Dichloropropane
0.005
Used in insecticide fumigants, dry cleaning fluids and in manufacturing of resins, waxes and petroleum products
Affects lungs, liver and kidneys.
Activated carbon
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
0.07
Herbicide production; dye carrier.
Liver, kidney damage
Activated carbon, aeration
1,4 Dichlorobenzene
0.075
Used in moth repellent, germicides, pesticides and soil fumigants.
Affects nervous system, liver and kidneys. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Acrytamide
0
Flocculants used in sewage and wastewater treatment.
Affect nervous system, probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Adipates
0.4
Synthetic rubber, food packaging, cosmetics.
Decreased body weight; liver and testes damage.
Activated carbon, aeration
Benzene
0.005
Used in fuels and as a solvent in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, plastics, pesticides and paints. Often traced to leaking underground storage tanks.
Leukemia, anemia and possibly cancer
Activated carbon
Trans-1,2 Dichloroethylene
0.1
Used as an industrial solvent in the manufacturing of dyes, perfumes, lacquers and rubber.
Affects liver, and nervous and circulatory systems
Activated carbon, ozonation with UV irradiation
Trichloroethylene
0.1
Used in dry cleaning and as a degreasing agent. Also used for manufacturing rubber, paints, adhesives, resins, oils and fumigants.
Irritates body tissue. Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Vinyl Chloride
0.005
Used as a plastic adhesive and refrigerant. The main component of PVC pipe
Affects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Xyienes
0.002
Used in manufacturing paint, ink, petroleum and detergents.
Affects nervous system, kidneys, lungs, liver and mucous membranes.
Activated carbon
Pesticides

 

Aldicarb

Aldicarb Sulfone

Aldicarb Sulfoxide

Carboturan

 

10
0.003
0.002
0.004
Agricultural insecticide
Affects nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys and liver. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
hlordane
0.04
Used on rodents, insects, birds. Restricted since 1980.
Affects nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys and liver. Probable cause of cancer
Activated carbon
Endrin
0.0002
Agricultural insecticide.
Liver, kidneys, heart damage.
Activated carbon
Heptachlor
0.0004
Agricultural insecticide. Converts to expoxide by soil and water organisms
Affects nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys and liver. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Heptachlor Expoxide
0.0002
Pesticide production by-product.
Affects nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys and liver. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Hexachlorobenzene
0.001
Pesticide production by-product.
Cancer
Activated carbon
Hexachlorocyclop -entadiene
0.05
Agricultural insecticide.
Cancer
Activated carbon, aeration
Lindane
0.0002
Agricultural insecticide.
Affects nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys and liver. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Methoxychlor
0.04
Insecticide used on apples, potatoes, tomatoes.
Affects nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys and liver. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Oxamyl
 
Agricultural insecticide.
Kidney damage.
Activated carbon
Herbicides

 

2,4-D

2,4,5-TP (silver)

Alachlor

Alrazine

 

0.07
0.05
0.002
0.003
Agricultural  herbicides
Affect nervous and reproductive system, respiratory system, kidneys, liver and heart. Causes anesthesia. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Dalapon
0.2
Herbicide used on orchards, beans, coffee, lawn, roads and railway.
Liver, kidney damage.
Activated carbon
Dinoseb
0.007
Runoff of herbicide from crop and non crop applications.
Thyroid, reproduction organ damage.
Activated carbon
Diquat
0.02
Runoff of herbicide on land and aquatic weeds.
Liver, kidneys, eye effects.
Activated carbon
Endothall
0.01
Used on crops, land and aquatic weeds.
Liver, kidney and gastrointestinal damage.
Activated carbon
Glyphosphate
0.7
Used on grass, weeds, brush
Liver, kidney damage
Activated carbon
Pentachlorophenol
0.001
Agricultural herbicide and wood preservative.
Affects nervous and reproductive system, respiratory system, kidneys, liver and heart. Causes anesthesia. Probable cause of cancer.
Activated carbon
Picloram
0.5
Used on broadleaf and woody plants.
Kidney, liver damage.
Activated carbon
Simazine
0.004
Used on grass sod, some crop, aquatic algae.
Cancer.
Activated carbon
The contaminants or other substances removed or reduced by this unit are not necessarily in your water.
Source: Water Technology, Directory Issue / 1995