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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloroethane

Wakefield S/d

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

9

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.173 ppb41ND - 0.690 ppb
20150.120 ppb51ND - 0.600 ppb
20160.1000 ppb61ND - 0.600 ppb
20170.128 ppb41ND - 0.510 ppb
20180.392 ppb53ND - 0.710 ppb
20190.205 ppb62ND - 0.730 ppb

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
2014-02-26C316356-01ND
2014-05-29C403340-010.690 ppb
2014-08-25C407996-01ND
2014-10-06C412183-01ND
2015-01-29ND
2015-02-09ND
2015-04-20ND
2015-07-20ND
2015-10-220.600 ppb
2016-02-10C516190-030.600 ppb
2016-02-11CZ01945-01ND
2016-02-11CZ01945-03ND
2016-04-25CZ03472-01ND
2016-08-29CZ08503-01ND
2016-10-24CZ13908-01ND
2017-01-26CZ18998-010.510 ppb
2017-04-12CA03149-01ND
2017-08-10CA07861-01ND
2017-10-18CA13362-01ND
2018-02-01CA18486-01 0.710 ppb
2018-02-07CB01811-01 ND
2018-04-09CB03583-01 0.680 ppb
2018-08-07CB08292-01 ND
2018-10-23CB14448-01 0.570 ppb
2019-01-29CB19005-01 ND
2019-01-29CB19005-03 0.730 ppb
2019-01-29CB19005-05 ND
2019-04-18CC04378-01 ND
2019-09-10CC10717-01 ND
2019-11-19CC15979-01 0.500 ppb