1,4-Dioxane
Norwalk Water Department
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 0.517 ppb | 18 | 4 | ND - 3.30 ppb |
2014 | 4.85 ppb | 8 | 8 | 1.40 ppb - 7.60 ppb |
2015 | 4.17 ppb | 6 | 6 | 1.60 ppb - 7.20 ppb |
2016 | 3.69 ppb | 8 | 8 | 2.10 ppb - 5.80 ppb |
2017 | 2.37 ppb | 9 | 8 | ND - 3.80 ppb |
2018 | 2.21 ppb | 8 | 8 | 1.80 ppb - 2.50 ppb |
2019 | 2.38 ppb | 8 | 8 | 1.60 ppb - 3.40 ppb |
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 |
---|---|---|
2013-01-31 | 440-36867-3 | 3.30 ppb |
2013-01-31 | 440-36867-5 | ND |
2013-01-31 | 440-36867-7 | ND |
2013-01-31 | 440-36867-1 | 1.80 ppb |
2013-04-30 | 440-45114-5 | ND |
2013-04-30 | 440-45114-1 | ND |
2013-04-30 | 440-45114-3 | ND |
2013-06-03 | 440-47995-1 | ND |
2013-06-03 | 440-47995-2 | ND |
2013-07-29 | 2869294 | 2.10 ppb |
2013-07-29 | 2869341 | ND |
2013-07-29 | 2869305 | 2.10 ppb |
2013-07-29 | 2869322 | ND |
2013-07-29 | 2869350 | ND |
2013-07-29 | 2869359 | ND |
2013-10-29 | 2922261 | ND |
2013-10-29 | 2922281 | ND |
2013-10-29 | 2922270 | ND |
2014-02-19 | 9588-003-1000 | 3.00 ppb |
2014-02-19 | 9588-002-1030 | 6.30 ppb |
2014-04-29 | 9588-003-1018 | 2.90 ppb |
2014-04-29 | 9588-002-1029 | 7.60 ppb |
2014-07-23 | 9588-003-1010 | 1.40 ppb |
2014-07-23 | 9588-002-1025 | 7.60 ppb |
2014-12-10 | 9588-003-0945 | 2.80 ppb |
2014-12-10 | 9588-002-1020 | 7.20 ppb |
2015-03-25 | 9588-003-0940 | 2.80 ppb |
2015-03-25 | 9588-002-0953 | 7.20 ppb |
2015-04-23 | 9588-002-1041 | 5.80 ppb |
2015-04-23 | 9588-003-1024 | 1.80 ppb |
2015-07-30 | 9588-002-1044 | 5.80 ppb |
2015-07-30 | 9588-003-1015 | 1.60 ppb |
2016-03-24 | 9588-002-1024 | 5.80 ppb |
2016-03-24 | 9588-003-1010 | 2.70 ppb |
2016-06-09 | 9588-002-0945 | 5.20 ppb |
2016-06-09 | 9588-003-0923 | 2.20 ppb |
2016-07-20 | 9588-002-1015 | 4.60 ppb |
2016-07-20 | 9588-003-0945 | 2.10 ppb |
2016-10-12 | 9588-002-0957 | 4.50 ppb |
2016-10-12 | 9588-003-0928 | 2.40 ppb |
2017-01-18 | 9588-003-0920 | 2.30 ppb |
2017-01-18 | 9588-002-0935 | 3.80 ppb |
2017-04-17 | 9588-003-0952 | 2.20 ppb |
2017-04-17 | 9588-002-0930 | 2.80 ppb |
2017-07-24 | 9588-003-0955 | 2.50 ppb |
2017-07-24 | 9588-002-1028 | 3.10 ppb |
2017-10-18 | 9588-012-0914 | ND |
2017-10-18 | 9588-003-0940 | 1.90 ppb |
2017-10-18 | 9588-002-0950 | 2.70 ppb |
2018-01-24 | 9588-002-0940 | 2.40 ppb |
2018-01-24 | 9588-003-0920 | 2.50 ppb |
2018-04-11 | 9588-003-0930 | 2.50 ppb |
2018-04-11 | 9588-002-0953 | 2.10 ppb |
2018-07-25 | 9588-003-0935 | 1.80 ppb |
2018-07-25 | 9588-002-1000 | 2.20 ppb |
2018-10-26 | 9588-003-0920 | 2.10 ppb |
2018-10-26 | 9588-002-0940 | 2.10 ppb |
2019-01-23 | 9588-002-0950 | 2.50 ppb |
2019-01-23 | 9588-003-0920 | 3.00 ppb |
2019-04-25 | 9588-002-1030 | 1.70 ppb |
2019-04-25 | 9588-003-1005 | 2.30 ppb |
2019-07-25 | 9588-002-1035 | 2.40 ppb |
2019-07-25 | 9588-003-1010 | 2.10 ppb |
2019-10-25 | 9588-002-1000 | 3.40 ppb |
2019-10-25 | 9588-003-1040 | 1.60 ppb |