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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloroethane

Mcnair-stampley W/a #3

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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015ND20ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND30ND

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
2015-08-24150826-001VOND
2015-11-02151103-004VOND
2016-03-08160309-005VOND
2016-05-16160518-027VOND
2016-07-19160720-027VOND
2017-03-06170307-014VOND
2017-05-22170523-016VOND
2017-08-03170804-003VOND
2017-10-30171031-022VOND
2018-02-05180206-017VOND
2018-05-02180503-019VOND
2018-08-13180814-023VOND
2018-10-15181016-015VOND
2019-02-27190228-008VOND
2019-04-29190430-002VOND
2019-08-19190820-004VOND