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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Paramount Water Department

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

 

61

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND110ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND50ND
20170.300 ppb113ND - 1.10 ppb
2018ND140ND
2019ND150ND

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
2014-02-279588-027-1001ND
2014-02-279588-025-0954ND
2014-04-289588-027-1034ND
2014-04-289588-025-1032ND
2014-04-289588-024-1106ND
2014-04-289588-016-1127ND
2014-04-289588-015-1100ND
2014-07-299588-027-1035ND
2014-07-299588-025-1020ND
2014-10-299588-027-1020ND
2014-10-299588-025-1027ND
2015-01-299588-025-1527ND
2015-01-299588-027-1531ND
2015-04-279588-024-1006ND
2015-04-279588-016-0945ND
2015-04-279588-015-1003ND
2016-01-299588-027-0954ND
2016-01-299588-025-0948ND
2016-04-299588-024-0959ND
2016-04-299588-015-0956ND
2016-04-299588-016-0923ND
2017-01-239588-027-1047ND
2017-01-239588-025-1045ND
2017-04-039588-015-11241.10 ppb
2017-04-039588-016-10201.10 ppb
2017-04-039588-024-11121.10 ppb
2017-07-039588-016-1012ND
2017-07-039588-015-1040ND
2017-07-039588-024-1045ND
2017-10-029588-024-1101ND
2017-10-029588-015-1050ND
2017-10-029588-016-1014ND
2018-01-089588-024-1102ND
2018-01-089588-016-1031ND
2018-01-089588-015-1058ND
2018-01-089588-025-1130ND
2018-01-089588-027-1136ND
2018-04-099588-024-1046ND
2018-04-099588-015-1041ND
2018-04-169588-016-0940ND
2018-07-129588-024-1023ND
2018-07-129588-015-1019ND
2018-07-129588-016-1005ND
2018-10-159588-016-1005ND
2018-10-159588-015-1015ND
2018-10-159588-024-1020ND
2019-01-079588-015-1055ND
2019-01-079588-025-1028ND
2019-01-079588-024-1100ND
2019-01-079588-016-1014ND
2019-03-209588-025-1025ND
2019-03-209588-027-1030ND
2019-04-039588-016-1010ND
2019-04-039588-015-1035ND
2019-04-039588-024-1040ND
2019-07-089588-016-1030ND
2019-07-089588-015-1115ND
2019-07-089588-024-1115ND
2019-10-079588-016-1010ND
2019-10-079588-015-1025ND
2019-10-079588-024-1030ND