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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Warminster Municipal Authority

Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.

Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND180ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene chloride) 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-071066362002ND
2014-01-071066362001ND
2014-01-071066362017ND
2014-01-071066362016ND
2014-01-071066362015ND
2014-01-071066362014ND
2014-01-071066362013ND
2014-01-071066362012ND
2014-01-071066362011ND
2014-01-071066362010ND
2014-01-071066362009ND
2014-01-071066362007ND
2014-01-071066362006ND
2014-01-071066362005ND
2014-01-071066362004ND
2014-01-071066362003ND
2014-01-171068194001ND
2014-01-271069260001ND
2015-01-0512160915ND
2015-01-0812273828ND
2015-01-0812273807ND
2015-01-0812273681ND
2015-01-0812273786ND
2015-01-0812273765ND
2015-01-0812273744ND
2015-01-0812273702ND
2015-01-0812273660ND
2015-01-0812273639ND
2015-01-0812273618ND
2015-01-0812273597ND
2015-01-0812273723ND
2016-01-1113740436ND
2016-01-1113740520ND
2016-01-1113740499ND
2016-01-1113740394ND
2016-01-1113740478ND
2016-01-1113740541ND
2016-01-1113740457ND
2016-01-1113740415ND
2016-01-1113740373ND
2016-01-1113740352ND
2016-01-1113740331ND
2016-01-1113740310ND
2016-01-1113740289ND
2016-01-1113740562ND
2016-03-0313857826ND
2017-03-2916865868ND
2018-01-032286581002ND
2018-05-028012263-03ND
2018-05-028012263-01ND
2018-05-028012263-02ND
2019-03-293025252001ND
2019-03-293025252003ND
2019-03-293025252005ND
2019-09-043056055001ND