1,2-Dichloropropane

Philadelphia Water Department

1,2-Dichloropropane is a volatile carcinogenic solvent discharged from chemical factories and landfills. It also contaminates farmland due to its former use as a soil fumigant. Read More.

The insecticide and fumigant uses of 1,2-dichloropropane were discontinued in the 1980s, but it is still used as an industrial solvent. The California public health goal of 0.5 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 10 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion. 1,2-Dichloropropane can also damage the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and digestive and respiratory systems.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	N/A
2014	ND	15	ND
2015	ND	12	ND
2016	ND	12	ND
2017	ND	15	ND
2018	ND	15	ND
2019	ND	12	ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.5 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.5 ppb for 1,2-dichloropropane 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-dichloropropane, established in 1991, 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.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-02-12	DW140212-000	ND
2014-02-12	DW140212-001	ND
2014-02-12	DW140212-003	ND
2014-05-14	7463348	ND
2014-05-14	7468948	ND
2014-05-14	7463350	ND
2014-05-14	7468950	ND
2014-05-14	7468949	ND
2014-05-14	7463349	ND
2014-08-13	7570046	ND
2014-08-13	7570047	ND
2014-08-13	7570048	ND
2014-11-19	DW141119-002	ND
2014-11-19	DW141119-038	ND
2014-11-19	DW141119-019	ND
2015-02-11	12406539	ND
2015-02-11	12406499	ND
2015-02-11	12406519	ND
2015-05-13	12754291	ND
2015-05-13	12754311	ND
2015-05-13	12754271	ND
2015-08-12	13140298	ND
2015-08-12	13140318	ND
2015-08-12	13140278	ND
2015-11-18	13518619	ND
2015-11-18	13518639	ND
2015-11-18	13518599	ND
2016-02-10	13874733	ND
2016-02-10	13874713	ND
2016-02-10	13874693	ND
2016-05-11	14257194	ND
2016-05-11	14257234	ND
2016-05-11	14257214	ND
2016-08-10	14741975	ND
2016-08-10	14742015	ND
2016-08-10	14741995	ND
2016-11-09	15231751	ND
2016-11-09	15231711	ND
2016-11-09	15231731	ND
2017-02-08	15662028	ND
2017-02-08	15662008	ND
2017-02-08	15661988	ND
2017-05-10	16101791	ND
2017-05-10	16101811	ND
2017-05-10	16100851	ND
2017-05-10	16100811	ND
2017-05-10	16101771	ND
2017-05-10	16100831	ND
2017-08-09	16572504	ND
2017-08-09	16572524	ND
2017-08-09	16572484	ND
2017-11-08	17029198	ND
2017-11-08	17029218	ND
2017-11-08	17029178	ND
2018-02-07	DW180207-019	ND
2018-02-07	DW180207-037	ND
2018-02-07	DW180207-002	ND
2018-05-09	DW180509-019	ND
2018-05-09	DW180509-002	ND
2018-05-09	DW180509-035	ND
2018-08-08	DW180808-002	ND
2018-08-08	8083919-01	ND
2018-08-08	8083919-02	ND
2018-08-08	DW180808-019	ND
2018-08-08	8083919-03	ND
2018-08-08	DW180808-035	ND
2018-11-07	DW181107-002	ND
2018-11-07	DW181107-018	ND
2018-11-08	DW181108-038	ND
2019-02-13	DW190213-034	ND
2019-02-13	DW190213-018	ND
2019-02-13	DW190213-002	ND
2019-05-15	DW190515-035	ND
2019-05-15	DW190515-019	ND
2019-05-15	DW190515-002	ND
2019-08-14	9084421-06	ND
2019-08-14	9084421-07	ND
2019-08-14	9084421-08	ND
2019-11-13	DW191113-019	ND
2019-11-13	DW191113-035	ND
2019-11-13	DW191113-002	ND