1,4-Dioxane
Northeast Alabama Water 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0950 ppb | 20 | 11 | ND - 0.240 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.0833 ppb | 6 | 3 | ND - 0.170 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-12 | 3046017 | ND |
| 2014-06-12 | 3045956 | ND |
| 2014-06-12 | 3046038 | ND |
| 2014-06-12 | 3045970 | 0.130 ppb |
| 2014-06-13 | 3045989 | 0.170 ppb |
| 2014-06-13 | 3046004 | 0.150 ppb |
| 2014-06-13 | 3045943 | 0.240 ppb |
| 2014-09-15 | 3106709 | ND |
| 2014-09-15 | 3106633 | 0.140 ppb |
| 2014-09-15 | 3106415 | ND |
| 2014-09-16 | 3106355 | 0.140 ppb |
| 2014-09-16 | 3106382 | 0.160 ppb |
| 2014-09-16 | 3106642 | 0.170 ppb |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158337 | ND |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158396 | 0.150 ppb |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158387 | ND |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158432 | 0.220 ppb |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158411 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158328 | ND |
| 2014-12-16 | 3158420 | ND |
| 2015-03-12 | 3207155 | ND |
| 2015-03-12 | 3207128 | 0.170 ppb |
| 2015-03-12 | 3207086 | ND |
| 2015-03-12 | 3207269 | ND |
| 2015-03-12 | 3207108 | 0.160 ppb |
| 2015-03-12 | 3207176 | 0.170 ppb |