Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

1,2-Dichloroethane

Chatsworth

1,2-Dichloroethane is a volatile carcinogenic chemical used to make plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride. Read More.

Also known as ethylene dichloride, it has been widely used as an intermediate for manufacturing other chemicals and as a solvent. 1,2-Dichloroethane causes multiple types of cancer in animal studies, and damages liver, kidneys, and the immune and nervous systems. The EPA classifies 1,2-dichloroethane as a probable human carcinogen.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for 1,2-dichloroethane 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 1,2-dichloroethane, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to 1,2-dichloroethane exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-04-28AI38854ND
2014-04-28AI38853ND
2015-03-16AI69026ND
2015-03-16AI69025ND
2016-03-21AJ08418ND
2016-03-21AJ08417ND
2016-03-21AJ08416ND
2017-06-20AJ58059ND
2017-06-20AJ58060ND
2018-05-07AJ88818ND
2018-05-07AJ88817ND
2019-04-29AK16000ND
2019-04-29AK15999ND
2019-04-29AK15998ND
2019-05-20AK17838ND
2019-07-16AK22500ND
2019-10-14AK35010ND