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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloroethane

Aqua Pa West Chester

1,2-Dichloroethane is a volatile carcinogenic chemical used to make plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride. Read More.

Also known as ethylene dichloride, it has been widely used as an intermediate for manufacturing other chemicals and as a solvent. 1,2-Dichloroethane causes multiple types of cancer in animal studies, and damages liver, kidneys, and the immune and nervous systems. The EPA classifies 1,2-dichloroethane as a probable human carcinogen.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

18

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
2014ND20ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for 1,2-dichloroethane 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 1,2-dichloroethane, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to 1,2-dichloroethane exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-20AE24207ND
2014-10-09AE52330ND
2015-02-0512396969ND
2015-03-1912510524ND
2015-06-0312876153ND
2016-01-0713747772ND
2016-09-2814900779ND
2016-09-2814900758ND
2017-06-2116251174ND
2017-09-2116720901ND
2017-12-2017155885ND
2018-01-29AF74444ND
2018-02-22AF77012ND
2018-03-22AF78070ND
2019-03-06AG10280ND
2019-03-06AG10262ND
2019-03-06AG10272ND
2019-03-07AG10725ND