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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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p-Dichlorobenzene

Oblates of St. Francis

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.

 

10

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND10ND
2017ND10ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-02-251071359_01_03819ND
2014-04-041071359_01_04372ND
2014-07-111071359_01_00013ND
2014-11-031071359_01_00166ND
2015-01-151071359_01_00220ND
2015-05-14E15003550001ND
2015-07-01E16000018001ND
2015-10-01E16001420001ND
2016-03-23E16003505001ND
2017-06-09E17004877001ND