1,4-Dioxane
Vernon Water Department
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 | 0.398 ppb | 14 | 5 | ND - 3.10 ppb |
| 2015 | ND | 5 | 0 | ND |
| 2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2017 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250409AM | ND |
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250411AM | 0.180 ppb |
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250223AM | 1.10 ppb |
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250415AM | ND |
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250225AM | ND |
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250227AM | ND |
| 2014-04-24 | 201404250413AM | ND |
| 2014-07-24 | 201407250401AM | ND |
| 2014-10-23 | 201410240338AM | 1.10 ppb |
| 2014-10-23 | 201410240340AM | ND |
| 2014-10-23 | 201410240344AM | 0.0950 ppb |
| 2014-10-23 | 201410240346AM | ND |
| 2014-10-23 | 201410240342AM | 3.10 ppb |
| 2014-10-23 | 201410240336AM | ND |
| 2015-01-22 | 201501230162AM | ND |
| 2015-01-22 | 201501200175AM | ND |
| 2015-02-12 | 2706-011-0950 | ND |
| 2015-02-19 | 2706-006-0900 | ND |
| 2015-07-30 | 201507310226AM | ND |
| 2017-05-24 | 9588-010-0905 | ND |
| 2017-08-24 | 9588-005-0920 | ND |
| 2019-01-14 | 9588-010-1017 | ND |
| 2019-09-30 | 9588-005-1300 | ND |