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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloroethane

City of Atwater

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.

 

20

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
2014ND40ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND80ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND80ND

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
2014-03-125806-903-0910ND
2014-03-125806-902-0935ND
2014-03-125806-901-0815ND
2014-03-125806-900-0735ND
2016-03-235806-018-0900ND
2016-03-235806-021-1000ND
2016-03-235806-019-0930ND
2016-03-235806-013-0630ND
2016-03-235806-017-0830ND
2016-03-235806-016-0800ND
2016-03-235806-015-0730ND
2016-03-235806-014-0700ND
2019-02-275806-017-0730ND
2019-02-275806-016-1020ND
2019-02-275806-018-0820ND
2019-02-275806-019-0855ND
2019-02-275806-015-0650ND
2019-02-275806-021-1155ND
2019-02-275806-014-1130ND
2019-02-275806-013-1100ND