1,4-Dioxane
City of Alhambra
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 | 0.0308 ppb | 13 | 4 | ND - 0.140 ppb |
| 2015 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2016 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-10 | 4D10051-09A | ND |
| 2014-04-10 | 4D10051-05A | 0.140 ppb |
| 2014-04-10 | 4D10051-03A | 0.0770 ppb |
| 2014-04-10 | 4D10051-01A | ND |
| 2014-04-10 | 4D10051-07A | ND |
| 2014-04-30 | 4D30060-01A | ND |
| 2014-07-08 | 4G08039-01A | ND |
| 2014-10-01 | 4J01047-07A | 0.1000 ppb |
| 2014-10-01 | 4J01047-03A | ND |
| 2014-10-01 | 4J01047-01A | ND |
| 2014-10-01 | 4J01047-09A | ND |
| 2014-10-01 | 4J01047-05A | 0.0840 ppb |
| 2014-10-16 | 4J16049-01A | ND |
| 2015-01-06 | 5A06061-01A | ND |
| 2016-05-24 | 9588-011-1055 | ND |
| 2016-05-24 | 9588-007-0855 | ND |
| 2019-05-07 | 9588-011-0920 | ND |
| 2019-05-07 | 9588-007-0900 | ND |