1,4-Dioxane
Point Pleasant Water 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.0608 ppb | 8 | 2 | ND - 0.413 ppb |
| 2014 | 0.0876 ppb | 8 | 3 | ND - 0.346 ppb |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-08-06 | 735764-9481 | ND |
| 2013-08-06 | 735780-9481 | ND |
| 2013-08-06 | 735774-9481 | ND |
| 2013-08-07 | 736160-9560 | ND |
| 2013-08-07 | 736130-9481 | 0.0732 ppb |
| 2013-08-07 | 736162-9560 | ND |
| 2013-11-13 | 758666-10316 | 0.413 ppb |
| 2013-11-13 | 758681-10316 | ND |
| 2014-02-11 | 770238-10747 | ND |
| 2014-02-11 | 770260-10747 | ND |
| 2014-02-11 | 770194-10747 | ND |
| 2014-02-11 | 770241-10747 | 0.346 ppb |
| 2014-02-11 | 770192-10747 | ND |
| 2014-02-19 | 771426-10828 | 0.120 ppb |
| 2014-05-06 | 784279-11306 | 0.234 ppb |
| 2014-05-06 | 784287-11306 | ND |