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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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p-Dichlorobenzene

McAllen Public Utility

p-Dichlorobenzene is a carcinogenic insecticide used in mothballs, and added to deodorant blocks made for trash cans and toilets. Long-term exposure can cause liver damage and kidney problems.

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 6 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 6 ppb for p-dichlorobenzene was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 75 ppb

The legal limit for p-dichlorobenzene, established in 1987, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to p-dichlorobenzene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-08-18AC63987ND
2014-08-18AC63989ND
2015-03-12AC84169ND
2015-06-10AC95446ND
2015-08-06AD02990ND
2015-08-06AD02982ND
2015-11-18AD14071ND
2016-06-30AD42708ND
2016-08-02AD46659ND
2017-04-19AD80199ND
2017-07-12AD89107ND
2018-08-15AE37228ND
2018-08-15AE37206ND
2019-05-22AE67703ND
2019-09-04AE82073ND