EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

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Credits

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Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

1,2-Dibromoethylene is a research chemical; no reported commercial uses. Potential health impacts associated with 1,2-Dibromoethylene include cancer, developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity.

Sources of 1,2-Dibromoethylene:

Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 1,2-Dibromoethylene tests reported by 1,336 public water suppliers in 5 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 938 people in 2 communities drank water contaminated with 1,2-Dibromoethylene. No health-based limit has been established by the federal government.1,2-Dibromoethylene remains unregulated in tap water, without a maximum legal limit.

Exposure Summary

938 People drinking water contaminated with 1,2-Dibromoethylene 2 Communities served water contaminated with 1,2-Dibromoethylene

Table. 1,2-Dibromoethylene Exposure by State

938 Americans in 1 states were served tap water contaminated with 1,2-Dibromoethylene between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with 1,2-Dibromoethylene contamination
	Systems	Population
New York	2	938
Total	2	938

Table. The most polluted communities

938 Americans in 2 communities were served tap water contaminated with 1,2-Dibromoethylene between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 1,2-Dibromoethylene level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Pabst Water Company Inc. North Salem, NY	238	1 of 1	1.79 ppb (1.79 to 1.79 ppb)
2	Carmel Water Department 4 Mahopac, NY	700	1 of 2	0.85 ppb (0 to 1.7 ppb)

Testing Summary for 1,2-Dibromoethylene

Water suppliers report an average of 0.3 1,2-Dibromoethylene tests per year. 38,415 water suppliers failed to report any 1,2-Dibromoethylene tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 1,2-Dibromoethylene by federal law? No Water suppliers reporting tests for 1,2-Dibromoethylene (1998-2003): 1,336 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.3 per year

1,2-Dibromoethylene Violations

Because 1,2-Dibromoethylene is unregulated in tap water, no violations are recorded in EPA's violations database, the Safe Drinking Water Information System. Under the federal tap water law, water suppliers are not required to routinely test for 1,2-Dibromoethylene, and any level is legal in tap water.