1,4-Dioxane
South Bend Water Works
1,4-Dioxane is a solvent classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. It contaminates groundwater in many states due to industrial wastewater discharges, plastic manufacturing runoff and landfill runoff. Read More.
Animal studies show that 1,4-dioxane can target the liver, kidneys and respiratory system, and that prenatal exposure can harm the developing fetus. The State of California has set a Public Heatlh Goal of no more than 1 part per billion of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. The state of Massachusetts sets a legal limit of 0.3 ppb, and New Hampshire's limit is 3 parts per billion. There is no national drinking water standard for this contaminant.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 0.195 ppb | 17 | 9 | ND - 0.540 ppb |
2014 | 0.150 ppb | 1 | 1 | 0.150 ppb |
2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.35 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.35 ppb for 1,4-dioxane was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2013-06-05 | 2836653 | ND |
2013-06-05 | 2836642 | ND |
2013-06-05 | 2836713 | 0.460 ppb |
2013-06-06 | 2837673 | 0.140 ppb |
2013-06-06 | 2837685 | 0.420 ppb |
2013-06-12 | 2840804 | 0.330 ppb |
2013-06-12 | 2840816 | 0.280 ppb |
2013-06-13 | 2841617 | ND |
2013-06-13 | 2841681 | ND |
2013-12-05 | 2940569 | 0.540 ppb |
2013-12-05 | 2940558 | 0.360 ppb |
2013-12-10 | 2942735 | 0.490 ppb |
2013-12-11 | 2943644 | 0.290 ppb |
2013-12-11 | 2943670 | ND |
2013-12-11 | 2943681 | ND |
2013-12-12 | 2944708 | ND |
2013-12-13 | 2945726 | ND |
2014-04-02 | 3001045 | 0.150 ppb |