Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylene dibromide

Harris County Fresh Water Supply District 1a

NOTE: Harris County Fresh Water Supply District 1a purchases water from Baytown Area Water Authority which is required to test for ethylene dibromide. Sample information shown below was taken by Baytown Area Water Authority.

Ethylene dibromide, a likely human carcinogen, was used until 1984 as a gasoline additive and a pesticide. It affects the hormone, reproductive and nervous systems; causes testicular atrophy; and damages the heart, liver and kidneys.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND10ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND10ND
2022ND40ND
2023N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.01 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.01 ppb for ethylene dibromide 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): 0.05 ppb

The legal limit for ethylene dibromide, 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 due to ethylene dibromide exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

NOTE: Harris County Fresh Water Supply District 1a purchases water from Baytown Area Water Authority which is required to test for ethylene dibromide. Sample information shown below was taken by Baytown Area Water Authority.

Date Lab ID Result
2019-01-14AE49643ND
2021-10-20AF74220ND
2022-01-12AF80016ND
2022-01-12AF80020ND
2022-04-04AF91879ND
2022-07-05AG03285ND