1,4-Dioxane
Metropolitan DWID
1,4-Dioxane is a solvent classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. It contaminates groundwater in many states due to industrial wastewater discharges, plastic manufacturing runoff and landfill runoff. Read More.
Animal studies show that 1,4-dioxane can target the liver, kidneys and respiratory system, and that prenatal exposure can harm the developing fetus. The State of California has set a Public Heatlh Goal of no more than 1 part per billion of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. The state of Massachusetts sets a legal limit of 0.3 ppb, and New Hampshire's limit is 3 parts per billion. There is no national drinking water standard for this contaminant.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0717 ppb | 23 | 3 | ND - 0.770 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.0752 ppb | 23 | 3 | ND - 0.730 ppb |
| 2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.35 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.35 ppb for 1,4-dioxane was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-06 | 201408070495AM | ND |
| 2014-08-06 | 201408070497AM | ND |
| 2014-08-18 | 201408190496AM | ND |
| 2014-08-18 | 201408190663AM | ND |
| 2014-08-18 | 201408190665AM | ND |
| 2014-08-18 | 201408190667AM | ND |
| 2014-08-18 | 201408190498AM | ND |
| 2014-08-18 | 201408190500AM | ND |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200435AM | ND |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200433AM | 0.770 ppb |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200417AM | ND |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200419AM | ND |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200439AM | ND |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200437AM | 0.310 ppb |
| 2014-08-19 | 201408200415AM | ND |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210492AM | ND |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210490AM | ND |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210484AM | ND |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210488AM | 0.570 ppb |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210482AM | ND |
| 2014-08-25 | 201408260297AM | ND |
| 2014-09-22 | 201409230534AM | ND |
| 2014-10-02 | 201410030189AM | ND |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180768AM | ND |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180770AM | ND |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180793AM | ND |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180766AM | 0.690 ppb |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180797AM | ND |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180795AM | ND |
| 2015-02-17 | 201502180791AM | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 201502190977AM | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 201502190763AM | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 201502190761AM | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 201502190757AM | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 201502190975AM | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 201502190759AM | ND |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200382AM | ND |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200207AM | 0.730 ppb |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200213AM | ND |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200211AM | 0.310 ppb |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200386AM | ND |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200209AM | ND |
| 2015-02-19 | 201502200384AM | ND |
| 2015-02-24 | 201502250889AM | ND |
| 2015-02-24 | 201502250887AM | ND |
| 2015-08-31 | 201509010996AM | ND |