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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

1,2-Dichloropropane is a pollutant from various industrial chemical factories. Potential health impacts associated with 1,2-Dichloropropane include cancer, cardiovascular or blood toxicity, endocrine toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity. [read more]

Sources of 1,2-Dichloropropane:

Industry

An Environmental Working Group analysis of 1,2-Dichloropropane tests reported by 31,905 public water suppliers in 42 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 3.2 million people in 78 communities drank water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloropropane. In 27 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds.

Exposure Summary

3,178,353 People drinking water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloropropane 78 Communities served water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloropropane 340,364 People drinking water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloropropane over health based limits 27 Communities served water with 1,2-Dichloropropane above health based limits

Table. 1,2-Dichloropropane Exposure by State

340 thousand Americans in 10 states were served tap water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloropropane at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with 1,2-Dichloropropane contamination		Water suppliers reporting 1,2-Dichloropropane above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
South Carolina	2	328,028	1	327,620
North Carolina	28	14,949	14	6,050
Washington	6	17,389	2	2,502
Florida	9	244,081	3	2,321
Nebraska	2	2,647	1	1,066
Texas	1	474	1	474
Indiana	1	150	1	150
New Hampshire	2	96	2	96
Idaho	1	50	1	50
Montana	1	35	1	35
California	6	976,311	0	0
Pennsylvania	1	820,000	0	0
Kentucky	1	279,214	0	0
New Jersey	2	252,529	0	0
Delaware	1	200,000	0	0
Minnesota	3	27,151	0	0
Tennessee	1	5,107	0	0
Arkansas	4	4,503	0	0
Wisconsin	1	3,882	0	0
Oklahoma	1	1,083	0	0
Illinois	1	375	0	0
New Mexico	1	181	0	0
Alaska	1	83	0	0
Iowa	1	35	0	0
Total	78	3,178,353	27	340,364

Table. The most polluted communities

340,000 Americans in 27 communities were served tap water contaminated with 1,2-Dichloropropane above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average 1,2-Dichloropropane level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Woods of Ashbury Cary, NC	104	2 of 6	2.32 ppb (0 to 7.6 ppb)
2	Chicagoland Christian Village Valparaiso, IN	150	1 of 10	2.2 ppb (0 to 22 ppb)
3	Eastbluff Highlands Condos Meredith, NH	48	12 of 12	1.98 ppb (1.1 to 2.7 ppb)
4	Eastbluff Village Condos Meredith, NH	48	12 of 12	1.76 ppb (1.3 to 2 ppb)
5	Bay Laurel S / D Cary, NC	59	10 of 10	1.71 ppb (0.7 to 2.6 ppb)
6	West Oaks S / D Cary, NC	605	3 of 11	1.59 ppb (0 to 6.9 ppb)
7	Lakeview Park Water Association Soap Lake, WA	1,002	7 of 9	1.52 ppb (0 to 3.5 ppb)
8	Pole Road Water Association Lynden, WA	1,500	1 of 2	1.25 ppb (0 to 2.5 ppb)
9	Charleston Commissioners of Public Works Charleston, SC	327,620	1 of 8	1.25 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
10	Four Lakes Golf Club Winter Haven, FL	1,600	4 of 6	1.05 ppb (0 to 1.81 ppb)

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Health based limits for 1,2-Dichloropropane

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	60 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	0.5 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	0.5 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 10-day exposure	90 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-Dichloropropane

Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 1,2-Dichloropropane tests per year. 7,846 water suppliers failed to report any 1,2-Dichloropropane tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for 1,2-Dichloropropane by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for 1,2-Dichloropropane (1998-2003): 31,905 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.7 per year

1,2-Dichloropropane Violations

Table. 5.0 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for 1,2-Dichloropropane between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	4,665	2,835
	(5.0% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	4,663	2,835
	(5.0% of all suppliers)
Reporting violations (1998-2003)	2	1
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)