1,4-Dioxane
NJ American Water - Western
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.0555 ppb | 33 | 7 | ND - 0.390 ppb |
| 2014 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-01 | 21871901 | ND |
| 2013-05-01 | 21873501 | ND |
| 2013-05-02 | 21872901 | ND |
| 2013-05-02 | 21872301 | ND |
| 2013-05-06 | 21874301 | ND |
| 2013-05-08 | 21873301 | ND |
| 2013-05-08 | 21872501 | ND |
| 2013-05-09 | 21873701 | ND |
| 2013-05-13 | 21872701 | 0.210 ppb |
| 2013-05-13 | 21873901 | 0.290 ppb |
| 2013-05-16 | 21872101 | 0.290 ppb |
| 2013-06-06 | 21875101 | ND |
| 2013-06-17 | 21874501 | ND |
| 2013-06-19 | 21871701 | ND |
| 2013-07-01 | 21874901 | 0.0700 ppb |
| 2013-07-24 | 21874701 | ND |
| 2013-08-19 | 23160401 | ND |
| 2013-08-23 | 23491001 | ND |
| 2013-08-23 | 23490801 | ND |
| 2013-08-23 | 23490401 | ND |
| 2013-08-30 | 23490601 | ND |
| 2013-09-06 | 23490201 | ND |
| 2013-10-11 | 23875801 | ND |
| 2013-11-04 | 23876001 | ND |
| 2013-11-04 | 23876601 | ND |
| 2013-11-04 | 23874401 | ND |
| 2013-11-06 | 23876201 | ND |
| 2013-11-06 | 23875001 | ND |
| 2013-11-06 | 23874801 | ND |
| 2013-11-08 | 23875201 | 0.310 ppb |
| 2013-11-08 | 23876401 | 0.270 ppb |
| 2013-11-08 | 23875601 | ND |
| 2013-11-13 | 23873301 | 0.390 ppb |
| 2014-02-05 | 24727501 | ND |