Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

p-Dichlorobenzene

Salem Public Works

p-Dichlorobenzene is a carcinogenic insecticide used in mothballs, and added to deodorant blocks made for trash cans and toilets. Long-term exposure can cause liver damage and kidney problems.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 6 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 6 ppb for p-dichlorobenzene 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): 75 ppb

The legal limit for p-dichlorobenzene, established in 1987, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to p-dichlorobenzene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-24201801250239-VND
2019-02-07201902080338-VND
2020-02-03202002040118-VND
2020-05-18202005190119-VND
2021-02-16202102170345-VND
2021-05-10202105110678-VND
2022-02-16202202180003-VND
2022-06-23380-6930-1-VND
2023-01-04380-33407-1-VND
2023-04-27380-45315-1-VND
2023-10-31380-69235-1-VND
2023-10-31380-69271-1-VND