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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Vernon Village Inc.

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

 

48

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND80ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-01-14BF98921VOC1ND
2014-01-14BF98920VOC1ND
2014-04-08BG29367VOC1ND
2014-04-08BG29366VOC1ND
2014-07-08BG70384VOC1ND
2014-07-08BG70385VOC1ND
2014-10-14BH27109VOC1ND
2014-10-14BH27110VOC1ND
2015-01-23BH66663VOC1ND
2015-01-23BH66664VOC1ND
2015-04-23BJ06854VOC1ND
2015-04-23BJ06855VOC1ND
2015-07-07BJ42229VOC1ND
2015-07-07BJ42228VOC1ND
2015-10-15BK08462VOC1ND
2015-10-15BK08463VOC1ND
2016-01-12BK51281VOC1ND
2016-01-12BK51282VOC1ND
2016-04-26BN19515VOC1ND
2016-04-26BN19516VOC1ND
2016-07-18BN74891VOC1ND
2016-07-18BN74892VOC1ND
2016-12-13BX03843VOC1ND
2016-12-13BX03844VOC1ND
2017-01-26BX39326VOC1ND
2017-01-26BX39327VOC1ND
2017-04-21BY07809VOC1ND
2017-04-21BY07810VOC1ND
2017-07-27BY73664VOC1ND
2017-07-27BY73665VOC1ND
2017-10-26BZ27612VOC1ND
2017-10-26BZ27613VOC1ND
2018-01-12BZ72199VOC1ND
2018-01-12BZ72200VOC1ND
2018-04-12CA18733VOC1ND
2018-04-12CA18734VOC1ND
2018-07-25CA97190ND
2018-07-25CA97191ND
2018-10-16CB72178ND
2018-10-16CB72179ND
2019-03-22CC73403ND
2019-03-22CC73404ND
2019-05-07CD07904ND
2019-05-07CD07905ND
2019-08-06CD78424ND
2019-08-06CD78425ND
2019-10-28CE49240ND
2019-10-28CE49241ND