National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene is a synthetic chemical used as a solvent, refrigerant, and in the production of pharmaceuticals; it is released as pollutant from various industrial chemical factories.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 20 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 56 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 2,186,351 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene:
- Occupational hazards
- Cancer
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
- Neurotoxicity
- Miscellaneous
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 20 states have reported detecting trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| North Carolina | 1 | 409,542 |
| Florida | 6 | 337,744 |
| Washington | 1 | 305,000 |
| California | 3 | 246,826 |
| New York | 4 | 227,705 |
| Illinois | 3 | 167,695 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 165,250 |
| Indiana | 2 | 73,131 |
| New Jersey | 2 | 66,153 |
| Nebraska | 2 | 45,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 34,163 |
| Ohio | 3 | 34,049 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 24,632 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 17,078 |
| Idaho | 1 | 10,500 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 9,800 |
| Michigan | 1 | 7,520 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 2,401 |
| Virginia | 3 | 1,810 |
| New Hampshire | 4 | 352 |
| Total | 56 | 2,186,351 |
The Most Polluted Communities
56 water utilities reported detecting trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitehall Twp Authority Whitehall, PA | 13,063 | 20 of 22 | 1.98 ppb (0 to 4.3 ppb) |
| 2 | Jordan Jordan, MN | 5,084 | 1 of 1 | 0.9 ppb (0.9 ppb) |
| 3 | Pawc Homesite Wilkes-barre, PA | 55 | 21 of 21 | 0.6 ppb (0.35 to 0.85 ppb) |
| 4 | Mcconnellsburg Boro Muni Auth Mcconnellsburg, PA | 2,000 | 2 of 5 | 0.56 ppb (0 to 1.8 ppb) |
| 5 | Bedford Hills/Taconic Corr. Facilities Bedford Hills, NY | 1,100 | 1 of 1 | 0.5 ppb (0.5 ppb) |
| 6 | Valley Mills Crossing Bedford, VA | 50 | 1 of 3 | 0.47 ppb (0 to 1.4 ppb) |
| 7 | City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department Raleigh, NC | 409,542 | 1 of 15 | 0.41 ppb (0 to 6.2 ppb) |
| 8 | Glenwood North Hampstead, NH | 50 | 1 of 6 | 0.4 ppb (0 to 2.4 ppb) |
| 9 | Milford Milford, MI | 7,520 | 4 of 4 | 0.34 ppb (0.27 to 0.4 ppb) |
| 10 | City of Norfolk Norfolk, NE | 24,000 | 33 of 65 | 0.33 ppb (0 to 1.2 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 100 ppb |
| Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG) | A non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 100 ppb |
| Lifetime health-based limit, non-cancer risk | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for a lifetime of exposure. The Lifetime health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is based on exposure for a a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 100 ppb |
| EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria | Water quality criteria set by the US EPA provide guidance for states and tribes authorized to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect human health. These are non-enforceable standards based upon exposure by both drinking water and the contribution of water contamination to other consumed foods. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 140 ppb |
| Drinking Water Equivalent Level | A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 700 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 1000 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 20000 ppb |
Testing Summary for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
| Are tests routinely required for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (2004-2009): | 33,953 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Violation Summary for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 0 |
| Monitoring Violations | 4,298 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses | RTECS®- Acute Toxicity Data 1990 |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 |
| Limited evidence of cardiovascular or blood toxicity | Klaassen, C, 1996 |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses | RTECS®- Acute Toxicity Data 1990 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| nervous system - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Miscellaneous
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | 1,2-DICHLOROETHYLENE; [1] ; CIS-DICHLOROETHYLENE; [2] ; TRANS-DICHLOROETHYLENE [3] | •Highly flammable •Highly flammable •Harmful •Harmful by inhalation •Harmful to aquatic organisms |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | 1,2-TRANS-DICHLOROETHYLENE | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | ETHENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | 1,2-DICHLOROETHYLENE, ALL ISOMERS | •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •Neurotoxin: CNS Solvent Syndrome; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 200 ppm; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 130338 ppm, trans isomer, 32000 ppm, cis isomer; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 200 ppm; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 3: may ignite at ambient temperature; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 1000 ppm; •Odor Threshold High - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 17 ppm; •Odor Threshold Low - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 0.08 ppm; •MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Federal Republic of Germany): 200 ppm; |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | 1,2-TRANS-DICHLOROETHYLENE | •Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Klaassen, C, 1996 | 1,2-TRANS-DICHLOROETHYLENE | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | ETHYLENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Acute Toxicity Data 1990 | ETHYLENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 | ETHYLENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | ETHYLENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1984 | ETHYLENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Gene Conversion and Mitotic Recombination (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 | ETHYLENE, 1,2-DICHLORO-, (E)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Klaassen, C., M. Amdur and J. Doull (eds.). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons, 5th Ed. Pergamon Press, NY. 1996. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Acute Toxicity Data 1990 | RTECS®- Acute Toxicity Data. Journal of the American College of Toxicology, Part B. (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128) V.1- 1,11,1990 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 182,135,1987 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 206,209,1988 |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1984 | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 4,365,1984 |
| RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 | RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry. (Gordon & Breach Science Pub. Inc., 1 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016) V.3(3/4)- 15,101,1987 |
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