p-Dichlorobenzene
City of Santa Barbara Water Department
p-Dichlorobenzene is a carcinogenic insecticide used in mothballs, and added to deodorant blocks made for trash cans and toilets. Long-term exposure can cause liver damage and kidney problems.
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 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2015 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2016 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2017 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2018 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 6 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 6 ppb for p-dichlorobenzene 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) 75 ppb
The legal limit for p-dichlorobenzene, established in 1987, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to p-dichlorobenzene exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-10-21 | 9590-042-0758 | ND |
| 2014-10-21 | 9590-035-0931 | ND |
| 2014-10-21 | 9590-015-0843 | ND |
| 2014-10-22 | 9590-004-1014 | ND |
| 2015-05-12 | 9590-055-0842 | ND |
| 2015-11-10 | 9590-005-1050 | ND |
| 2016-11-02 | 9590-031-1120 | ND |
| 2016-11-02 | 9590-053-1152 | ND |
| 2017-05-18 | 9590-058-1734 | ND |
| 2017-11-07 | 9590-004-0955 | ND |
| 2017-11-14 | 9590-035-0930 | ND |
| 2017-11-14 | 9590-042-0848 | ND |
| 2018-07-30 | 9590-058-0815 | ND |
| 2018-09-25 | 9590-015-0947 | ND |
| 2018-09-25 | 9590-055-1120 | ND |
| 2018-09-26 | 9590-004-1131 | ND |
| 2019-09-04 | 9590-058-1240 | ND |
| 2019-10-29 | 9590-031-0904 | ND |
| 2019-10-29 | 9590-004-1034 | ND |
| 2019-12-05 | 9590-053-1403 | ND |