p-Dichlorobenzene
Middletown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
| 2022 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-28 | VOC1 200490770 | ND |
| 2018-04-16 | VOC1 200492154 | ND |
| 2019-05-13 | VOC1 200531893 | ND |
| 2019-05-21 | VOC1 200533083 | ND |
| 2020-05-06 | VOC1 200574723 | ND |
| 2020-05-14 | VOC1 200575833 | ND |
| 2021-03-03 | VOC1 200612185 | ND |
| 2021-03-30 | VOC1 200612183 | ND |
| 2021-03-30 | VOC1 200612184 | ND |
| 2022-05-11 | V300182524 300182531 | ND |
| 2022-05-11 | V300182526 300182544 | ND |
| 2023-06-23 | V300370771 300370772 | ND |
| 2023-06-23 | V300370773 300370774 | ND |