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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

City of Grenada

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

 

39

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND30ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND120ND

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
2016-09-27160928-025VOND
2016-09-27160928-024VOND
2016-09-27160928-023VOND
2017-02-27170228-017VOND
2017-02-27170228-016VOND
2017-02-27170228-015VOND
2017-05-15170516-018VOND
2017-05-15170516-017VOND
2017-05-15170516-016VOND
2017-09-11170912-004VOND
2017-09-11170912-002VOND
2017-09-11170912-003VOND
2017-10-30171031-007VOND
2017-10-30171031-006VOND
2017-10-30171031-005VOND
2018-01-24180125-014VOND
2018-01-24180125-013VOND
2018-01-24180125-012VOND
2018-04-24180425-018VOND
2018-04-24180425-019VOND
2018-04-24180425-017VOND
2018-08-08180809-011VOND
2018-08-08180809-010VOND
2018-08-08180809-009VOND
2018-10-09181010-005VOND
2018-10-09181010-004VOND
2018-10-09181010-003VOND
2019-02-25190226-015VOND
2019-02-25190226-014VOND
2019-02-25190226-016VOND
2019-04-24190425-003VOND
2019-04-24190425-002VOND
2019-04-24190425-001VOND
2019-08-08190809-014VOND
2019-08-08190809-013VOND
2019-08-08190809-012VOND
2019-10-17191018-005VOND
2019-10-17191018-007VOND
2019-10-17191018-006VOND