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Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant. 1,2-Dichloroethane is a pollutant from various industrial chemical factories. Potential health impacts associated with 1,2-Dichloroethane include cancer, cardiovascular or blood toxicity, developmental toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. [read more] Sources of 1,2-Dichloroethane:  | Industry |
An Environmental Working Group analysis of 1,2-Dichloroethane tests reported by 31,911 public water suppliers in 42 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 6.7 million people in 157 communities drank water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane. In 48 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds. Exposure Summary 6,735,099 | People drinking water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane | 157 | Communities served water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane | 142,599 | People drinking water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane over health based limits | 48 | Communities served water with 1,2-Dichloroethane above health based limits |
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Table. 1,2-Dichloroethane Exposure by State143 thousand Americans in 21 states were served tap water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003. | State | Water suppliers with 1,2-Dichloroethane contamination | Water suppliers reporting 1,2-Dichloroethane above health-based limits |
|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population |
|---|
| Minnesota | 7 | 56,162 | 4 | 48,728 | | Pennsylvania | 14 | 41,601 | 5 | 38,525 | | New Hampshire | 5 | 19,198 | 5 | 19,198 | | New Jersey | 11 | 387,303 | 1 | 12,600 | | California | 11 | 4,276,704 | 3 | 7,822 | | North Carolina | 14 | 24,417 | 3 | 3,270 | | Michigan | 4 | 9,531 | 2 | 1,809 | | Oklahoma | 8 | 19,187 | 3 | 1,738 | | Nebraska | 25 | 600,283 | 5 | 1,576 | | Iowa | 5 | 4,968 | 3 | 1,388 | | South Carolina | 3 | 3,459 | 2 | 1,383 | | Indiana | 3 | 202,155 | 1 | 1,350 | | Alabama | 4 | 21,009 | 1 | 1,038 | | Missouri | 2 | 1,971 | 1 | 699 | | Virginia | 4 | 848 | 3 | 428 | | Idaho | 1 | 300 | 1 | 300 | | Illinois | 4 | 4,235 | 1 | 285 | | North Dakota | 2 | 422 | 1 | 201 | | Arizona | 1 | 125 | 1 | 125 | | Ohio | 3 | 19,346 | 1 | 86 | | Texas | 1 | 50 | 1 | 50 | | Kentucky | 3 | 334,809 | 0 | 0 | | Wisconsin | 9 | 270,838 | 0 | 0 | | Delaware | 1 | 200,000 | 0 | 0 | | Florida | 3 | 199,288 | 0 | 0 | | Alaska | 3 | 21,211 | 0 | 0 | | Tennessee | 2 | 10,606 | 0 | 0 | | Arkansas | 3 | 3,523 | 0 | 0 | | Washington | 1 | 1,550 | 0 | 0 | | Total | 157 | 6,735,099 | 48 | 142,599 |
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Table. The most polluted communities143,000 Americans in 48 communities were served tap water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane above health based limits between 1998 and 2003 Ranked by highest average 1,2-Dichloroethane level | Rank | System
| Population Served
| Positive test results of total reported tests
| Average Level
(Range) |
|---|
| 1 | Bay Harbor Club
Eastport, MI | 51 | 1 of 1 | 8.6 ppb
(8.6 to 8.6 ppb) | | 2 | Mountain View Nursing Home
Aroda, VA | 80 | 2 of 3 | 3.93 ppb
(0 to 6.4 ppb) | | 3 | Oxford Water Utility
Oxford, IN | 1,350 | 3 of 15 | 3.26 ppb
(0 to 38 ppb) | | 4 | Camelot Mhp
Asheville, NC | 85 | 8 of 11 | 3.08 ppb
(0 to 5.85 ppb) | | 5 | Green Hills Mhp
Barrington, NH | 50 | 2 of 2 | 2.63 ppb
(0.86 to 4.4 ppb) | | 6 | Peterson Municipal Water Supply
Peterson, IA | 372 | 1 of 1 | 2.2 ppb
(2.2 to 2.2 ppb) | | 7 | Village of Holbrook Water
Holbrook, NE | 237 | 1 of 6 | 1.83 ppb
(0 to 11 ppb) | | 8 | Tyrrell County Water
Columbia, NC | 3,160 | 1 of 3 | 1.67 ppb
(0 to 5 ppb) | | 9 | Blaine
Blaine, MN | 44,000 | 13 of 20 | 1.59 ppb
(0 to 4.1 ppb) | | 10 | Village of Hyannis Water
Hyannis, NE | 200 | 1 of 9 | 1.56 ppb
(0 to 14 ppb) |
Next --> Health based limits for 1,2-Dichloroethane
| Health Limit | Limit Value | Limit Description |
|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | 5 ppb | 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. | | Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG) | 0 ppb | 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. | | One in ten thousand (10-4) Cancer Risk | 40 ppb | The concentration of a chemical in drinking water corresponding to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 10,000. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | | California Public Health Goals | 0.4 ppb | Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health. | | EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria | 0.38 ppb | 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. | | Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure | 700 ppb | 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. | | Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure | 700 ppb | 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. | Testing Summary for 1,2-Dichloroethane Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 1,2-Dichloroethane tests per year. 7,840 water suppliers failed to report
any 1,2-Dichloroethane tests at all. | Are tests routinely required for 1,2-Dichloroethane by federal law? | Yes | | Water suppliers reporting tests for 1,2-Dichloroethane (1998-2003): | 31,911 of 39,751 | | Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): | 0.7 per year |
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1,2-Dichloroethane Violations Table. 4.9 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for 1,2-Dichloroethane between 1998 and 2003 | Violation Type | Violations | Systems |
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| Any Violation (1998-2003) | 4,591 | 2,775 | | (4.9% of all suppliers) | | Testing violations (1998-2003) | 4,584 | 2,770 | | (4.9% of all suppliers) | | Reporting violations (1998-2003) | 2 | 1 | | (< 0.1% of all suppliers) | | Violations of tap water pollution standards (1998-2003) | 5 | 5 | | (< 0.1% of all suppliers) |
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