1,4-Dioxane
New York City System
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
| 2014 | ND | 9 | 0 | ND |
| 2015 | 0.0273 ppb | 3 | 1 | ND - 0.0820 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-12-10 | 201312110816AM | ND |
| 2013-12-10 | 201312110609AM | ND |
| 2013-12-10 | 201312110762AM | ND |
| 2014-03-11 | 201403120478AM | ND |
| 2014-03-11 | 201403120608AM | ND |
| 2014-03-11 | 201403120580AM | ND |
| 2014-06-24 | 201406250133AM | ND |
| 2014-06-24 | 201406250381AM | ND |
| 2014-06-24 | 201406250127AM | ND |
| 2014-09-23 | 201409240402AM | ND |
| 2014-09-23 | 201409240447AM | ND |
| 2014-09-23 | 201409240450AM | ND |
| 2015-06-25 | 201505020407AM | ND |
| 2015-09-23 | 201508080112AM | ND |
| 2015-12-08 | 201511070106AM | 0.0820 ppb |