Home hazard report for 21284 — Towson, MD
ZIP 21284 is served by City of Baltimore: 4 violations since 2016, latest lead result 2.7 ppb, PFAS 1 detected. Baltimore is in EPA radon zone 1.
Health-based violations since 2016: TTHM, Revised Total Coliform Rule, Total Haloacetic Acids (Haa5). All are listed as resolved.
90th-percentile lead in the latest round (Jan 2022). Lead comes mostly from household plumbing and service lines, so individual homes can be higher.
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.
The nearest active Superfund site is 7.9 miles away.
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Where ZIP 21284 is
blue: utility service area · scroll or pinch to zoomDrinking water: City of Baltimore
Health-based violations
| Contaminant or rule | Health-based violations since 2016 |
|---|---|
| TTHM | 2 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 1 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (Haa5) | 1 |
A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its legal limit (MCL) or a required treatment technique was not met, as reported by the state to EPA’s SDWIS. All are listed as resolved or archived; the latest began Apr 2026.
Lead
90th-percentile lead per sampling round (90% of the homes sampled were at or below this level). Black line: EPA’s 15 ppb action level; under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 10 ppb from 2027.
PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
| Compound | Highest result | Samples with detection | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 3 ppt | 1 of 12 | — |
| PFHxA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFOA | not detected | 0 of 12 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFOS | not detected | 0 of 12 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFNA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFHxS | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFDA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFHpA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFBS | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFBA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), samples 2023–2025; ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were set by EPA in 2024; water systems have until the end of the decade to comply.
Radon in Baltimore
EPA radon zone 1 — highest potential. Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas from soil and rock, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above and considering it from 2 pCi/L. A short-term test kit costs about $15–30. How radon zones work →
Superfund sites nearby
| Site | Status | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 68th Street Dump Baltimore, Maryland · EPA ID MDD980918387 | Proposed | 7.9 mi |
| Kane & Lombard Street Drums Baltimore, Maryland · EPA ID MDD980923783 | Active (final NPL) | 8.0 mi |
| Chemical Metals Industries, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland · EPA ID MDD980555478 | Cleaned up & deleted | 9.5 mi |
EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL): the country’s most serious known hazardous-waste sites, each with an EPA cleanup record (linked). Distance is measured from the ZIP center to the site’s reference point; being near a site does not by itself mean exposure — EPA site pages describe what was found and how it is being cleaned up.
What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.
Questions about 21284
Who supplies drinking water to ZIP 21284?
City of Baltimore (EPA ID MD0300002), a surface water (rivers, lakes) system serving about 1,600,000 people.
Is there lead in Towson, MD tap water?
The utility’s latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2022) was 2.7 ppb; EPA’s action level is 15 ppb, falling to 10 ppb from 2027. Lead mostly comes from service lines and home plumbing, so the only way to know your tap is to test it.
Does Towson, MD water have PFAS?
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Has the water system in 21284 had violations?
Health-based violations since 2016: TTHM, Revised Total Coliform Rule, Total Haloacetic Acids (Haa5). All are listed as resolved.
Are there Superfund sites near 21284?
The nearest active Superfund site is 7.9 miles away. Sites within 10 miles: 68th Street Dump (7.9 mi, Proposed); Kane & Lombard Street Drums (8.0 mi, Active (final NPL)); Chemical Metals Industries, Inc. (9.5 mi, Cleaned up & deleted).
Is radon a problem in Baltimore?
Baltimore is in EPA radon zone 1 (highest potential). Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.