1,4-Dioxane
Gloucester City W Department
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015 | 1.10 ppb | 2 | 2 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2016 | 1.37 ppb | 11 | 11 | 0.820 ppb - 2.23 ppb |
| 2017 | 1.46 ppb | 9 | 9 | 0.890 ppb - 2.18 ppb |
| 2018 | 1.36 ppb | 12 | 12 | 0.910 ppb - 1.93 ppb |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-01-22 | 2051262003 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2015-07-23 | 2084941003 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2016-06-07 | 32893904 | 1.56 ppb |
| 2016-06-07 | 32893903 | 0.820 ppb |
| 2016-06-07 | 32893902 | 1.14 ppb |
| 2016-09-13 | 33626501 | 1.52 ppb |
| 2016-09-13 | 33626503 | 1.18 ppb |
| 2016-09-13 | 33626502 | 2.23 ppb |
| 2016-09-13 | 33626504 | 0.980 ppb |
| 2016-12-13 | 34396503 | 0.910 ppb |
| 2016-12-13 | 34396501 | 1.72 ppb |
| 2016-12-13 | 34396504 | 1.02 ppb |
| 2016-12-13 | 34396502 | 1.94 ppb |
| 2017-03-13 | 35447001 | 1.25 ppb |
| 2017-09-25 | 37705702 | 2.18 ppb |
| 2017-09-25 | 37705703 | 1.44 ppb |
| 2017-09-25 | 37705704 | 0.890 ppb |
| 2017-09-25 | 37705701 | 1.31 ppb |
| 2017-12-28 | 38668302 | 1.99 ppb |
| 2017-12-28 | 38668301 | 1.38 ppb |
| 2017-12-28 | 38668304 | 1.57 ppb |
| 2017-12-28 | 38668303 | 1.14 ppb |
| 2018-03-16 | 39510403 | 1.58 ppb |
| 2018-03-16 | 39510402 | 1.67 ppb |
| 2018-03-16 | 39510401 | 1.07 ppb |
| 2018-03-16 | 39510404 | 0.910 ppb |
| 2018-06-26 | 40707404 | 1.36 ppb |
| 2018-06-26 | 40707403 | 1.35 ppb |
| 2018-06-26 | 40707402 | 1.91 ppb |
| 2018-06-26 | 40707401 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2018-09-20 | 41942704 | 1.03 ppb |
| 2018-09-20 | 41942701 | 1.19 ppb |
| 2018-09-20 | 41942703 | 0.940 ppb |
| 2018-09-20 | 41942702 | 1.93 ppb |