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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Pico WD

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

45

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND70ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-01-069588-011-0745ND
2014-03-209588-002-0930ND
2014-03-209588-009-1008ND
2014-03-209588-006-1000ND
2014-03-209588-004-0936ND
2014-06-209588-011-0950ND
2014-08-229588-011-1005ND
2014-10-239588-011-0940ND
2015-03-189588-004-0831ND
2015-03-189588-011-0755ND
2015-03-189588-009-0806ND
2015-03-189588-006-0819ND
2015-06-229588-011-0837ND
2015-08-269588-011-0957ND
2015-12-239588-011-0823ND
2016-02-259588-011-0800ND
2016-03-149588-009-0915ND
2016-03-239588-004-0802ND
2016-03-239588-006-0816ND
2016-05-099588-011-0828ND
2016-08-109588-011-0825ND
2016-11-309588-011-0800ND
2016-12-229588-011-0837ND
2017-02-239588-011-0840ND
2017-03-209588-004-1000ND
2017-03-209588-009-0910ND
2017-03-209588-006-0920ND
2017-05-089588-011-0815ND
2017-08-249588-011-0924ND
2017-11-229588-011-0850ND
2018-02-139588-011-0900ND
2018-03-079588-004-0931ND
2018-03-079588-009-0908ND
2018-03-079588-006-0853ND
2018-05-149588-011-0835ND
2018-08-209588-011-0000ND
2018-08-209588-011-0830ND
2018-11-149588-011-0820ND
2019-03-259588-006-0830ND
2019-03-259588-011-0800ND
2019-03-259588-009-0900ND
2019-05-079588-011-0820ND
2019-05-099588-004-0746ND
2019-07-189588-009-0828ND
2019-10-319588-011-0850ND