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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Yuima Municipal Water District Ida

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

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND90ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND70ND
20170.0278 ppb181ND - 0.500 ppb
2018ND100ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-01-142706-012-0820ND
2014-04-082706-044-0900ND
2014-04-082706-012-1250ND
2014-07-082706-043-0855ND
2014-07-082706-031-1030ND
2014-07-082706-012-1000ND
2014-07-082706-006-1040ND
2014-08-122706-045-1050ND
2014-10-142706-012-1045ND
2015-01-132706-012-0850ND
2015-04-142706-012-0945ND
2015-07-142706-005-1150ND
2015-07-142706-012-1030ND
2015-10-222706-012-1052ND
2016-01-122706-012-0815ND
2016-03-102706-048-1130ND
2016-04-122706-012-1100ND
2016-07-122706-012-0830ND
2016-10-112706-012-1015ND
2016-10-142706-048-1100ND
2016-12-132706-048-1050ND
2017-01-102706-012-1130ND
2017-04-112706-012-1040ND
2017-05-092706-037-1050ND
2017-05-092706-048-1040ND
2017-06-132706-029-1045ND
2017-07-112706-032-0845ND
2017-07-112706-031-1125ND
2017-07-112706-033-0840ND
2017-07-112706-048-0815ND
2017-07-112706-047-0915ND
2017-07-112706-004-0845ND
2017-07-112706-006-1045ND
2017-07-112706-011-0945ND
2017-07-112706-020-0745ND
2017-07-112706-028-1140ND
2017-08-082706-012-0915ND
2017-09-122706-007-09120.500 ppb
2017-10-102706-012-1105ND
2018-01-082706-007-1340ND
2018-01-092706-012-0920ND
2018-04-102706-012-0800ND
2018-04-102706-007-1030ND
2018-07-102706-012-0800ND
2018-07-102706-007-1100ND
2018-07-102706-005-0830ND
2018-10-092706-012-1105ND
2018-10-092706-007-0830ND
2018-10-162706-007-0800ND
2019-01-082706-012-0815ND
2019-04-092706-042-0815ND
2019-04-092706-012-1125ND
2019-06-112706-041-0800ND
2019-07-092706-012-0845ND
2019-07-092706-007-0800ND
2019-10-082706-012-0900ND