1,2-Dichloroethane

Philadelphia Water Department

1,2-Dichloroethane is a volatile carcinogenic chemical used to make plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride. Read More.

Also known as ethylene dichloride, it has been widely used as an intermediate for manufacturing other chemicals and as a solvent. 1,2-Dichloroethane causes multiple types of cancer in animal studies, and damages liver, kidneys, and the immune and nervous systems. The EPA classifies 1,2-dichloroethane as a probable human carcinogen.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	N/A
2014	ND	15	ND
2015	ND	12	ND
2016	ND	12	ND
2017	ND	15	ND
2018	ND	15	ND
2019	ND	12	ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for 1,2-dichloroethane 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 1,2-dichloroethane, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to 1,2-dichloroethane exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-02-12	DW140212-000	ND
2014-02-12	DW140212-001	ND
2014-02-12	DW140212-003	ND
2014-05-14	7463348	ND
2014-05-14	7468948	ND
2014-05-14	7463350	ND
2014-05-14	7468950	ND
2014-05-14	7468949	ND
2014-05-14	7463349	ND
2014-08-13	7570046	ND
2014-08-13	7570047	ND
2014-08-13	7570048	ND
2014-11-19	DW141119-002	ND
2014-11-19	DW141119-038	ND
2014-11-19	DW141119-019	ND
2015-02-11	12406536	ND
2015-02-11	12406496	ND
2015-02-11	12406516	ND
2015-05-13	12754288	ND
2015-05-13	12754308	ND
2015-05-13	12754268	ND
2015-08-12	13140295	ND
2015-08-12	13140315	ND
2015-08-12	13140275	ND
2015-11-18	13518616	ND
2015-11-18	13518636	ND
2015-11-18	13518596	ND
2016-02-10	13874730	ND
2016-02-10	13874710	ND
2016-02-10	13874690	ND
2016-05-11	14257191	ND
2016-05-11	14257231	ND
2016-05-11	14257211	ND
2016-08-10	14741972	ND
2016-08-10	14742012	ND
2016-08-10	14741992	ND
2016-11-09	15231748	ND
2016-11-09	15231708	ND
2016-11-09	15231728	ND
2017-02-08	15662025	ND
2017-02-08	15662005	ND
2017-02-08	15661985	ND
2017-05-10	16101788	ND
2017-05-10	16101808	ND
2017-05-10	16100848	ND
2017-05-10	16100808	ND
2017-05-10	16101768	ND
2017-05-10	16100828	ND
2017-08-09	16572501	ND
2017-08-09	16572521	ND
2017-08-09	16572481	ND
2017-11-08	17029195	ND
2017-11-08	17029215	ND
2017-11-08	17029175	ND
2018-02-07	DW180207-019	ND
2018-02-07	DW180207-037	ND
2018-02-07	DW180207-002	ND
2018-05-09	DW180509-019	ND
2018-05-09	DW180509-002	ND
2018-05-09	DW180509-035	ND
2018-08-08	DW180808-002	ND
2018-08-08	8083919-01	ND
2018-08-08	8083919-02	ND
2018-08-08	DW180808-019	ND
2018-08-08	8083919-03	ND
2018-08-08	DW180808-035	ND
2018-11-07	DW181107-002	ND
2018-11-07	DW181107-018	ND
2018-11-08	DW181108-038	ND
2019-02-13	DW190213-034	ND
2019-02-13	DW190213-018	ND
2019-02-13	DW190213-002	ND
2019-05-15	DW190515-035	ND
2019-05-15	DW190515-019	ND
2019-05-15	DW190515-002	ND
2019-08-14	9084421-06	ND
2019-08-14	9084421-07	ND
2019-08-14	9084421-08	ND
2019-11-13	DW191113-019	ND
2019-11-13	DW191113-035	ND
2019-11-13	DW191113-002	ND