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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloroethane

Calico Rock

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.

 

34

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND70ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND60ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-05-2714149007301ND
2014-08-2514239002601ND
2014-08-2514239002701ND
2014-08-2514239002901ND
2015-04-1415106002801ND
2015-07-1415196001001ND
2015-07-1415196001101ND
2015-07-1415196001201ND
2015-10-1415289005801ND
2016-01-1316015011301ND
2016-04-1216105010101ND
2016-04-1216105010002ND
2016-07-1216196017901ND
2016-07-1216196017601ND
2016-07-1216196017501ND
2016-10-1116287009801ND
2017-01-1017012010001ND
2017-04-1117103002401ND
2017-04-1117103002501ND
2017-07-1117194010001ND
2017-07-1117194009701ND
2017-07-1117194009801ND
2017-10-1017285011701ND
2018-04-1118102006101ND
2018-04-1118102006001ND
2018-07-1018193011601ND
2018-07-1018193011201ND
2018-07-1018193011501ND
2018-10-0918284008101ND
2019-01-1519016002501ND
2019-08-2619240000301ND
2019-08-2619240000601ND
2019-08-2619240000401ND
2019-10-0819282002201ND