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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Doyon Utilities Jber - Richardson

Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.

Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND40ND
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene chloride) 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-06VO*2955028ND
2014-01-06VO*2955030ND
2014-01-06VO*2955032ND
2015-01-12VO*3171366ND
2016-03-29VO*3421833ND
2016-04-11VO*3429784ND
2017-01-03VO*3617587ND
2017-01-03VO*3617588ND
2017-01-03VO*3617589ND
2017-01-03VO*3617590ND
2018-01-22VO*3859297ND
2018-05-23VO*3945914ND
2018-05-23VO*3945922ND
2018-05-23VO*3945930ND