1,4-Dioxane
Page Avenue Mutual Water Company
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 | 1.65 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.40 ppb - 1.90 ppb |
| 2015 | 1.53 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.30 ppb - 1.70 ppb |
| 2016 | 1.55 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.30 ppb - 1.80 ppb |
| 2017 | 1.68 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.40 ppb - 1.90 ppb |
| 2018 | 1.40 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.20 ppb - 1.50 ppb |
| 2019 | 1.60 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.40 ppb - 1.80 ppb |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-16 | 4417-001-1100 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2014-04-01 | 4417-001-1300 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2014-07-02 | 4417-001-1205 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2014-10-02 | 4417-001-1140 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2015-01-13 | 4417-001-0940 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2015-04-02 | 4417-001-1045 | 1.70 ppb |
| 2015-07-01 | 4417-001-1110 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2015-10-01 | 4417-001-1140 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2016-01-05 | 4417-001-1300 | 1.30 ppb |
| 2016-04-04 | 4417-001-1140 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2016-08-04 | 4417-001-1300 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2016-10-03 | 4417-001-1110 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2017-01-04 | 4417-001-1140 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2017-04-06 | 4417-001-1115 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2017-07-06 | 4417-001-1135 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2017-10-03 | 4417-001-1040 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2018-01-03 | 4417-001-1120 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2018-04-11 | 4417-001-1330 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2018-07-03 | 4417-001-1110 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2018-10-01 | 4417-001-1220 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2019-01-08 | 4417-001-1210 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2019-04-01 | 4417-001-0925 | 1.50 ppb |
| 2019-07-01 | 4417-001-1045 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2019-10-02 | 4417-001-1100 | 1.70 ppb |