1,4-Dioxane
New York American Water - Sea Cliff
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 | 0.0450 ppb | 4 | 2 | ND - 0.1000 ppb |
| 2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2017 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2018 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | 0.0500 ppb | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.1000 ppb |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-09 | 25933701 | 0.1000 ppb |
| 2014-07-15 | 26700001 | ND |
| 2014-12-02 | 27708801 | ND |
| 2014-12-02 | 27708701 | 0.0800 ppb |
| 2017-07-25 | 36320901 | ND |
| 2017-07-25 | 36320801 | ND |
| 2018-10-17 | 40988601 | ND |
| 2019-07-10 | 43886201 | ND |
| 2019-07-10 | 43886301 | 0.1000 ppb |