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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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p-Dichlorobenzene

Orange County WCID 1

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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-04-17AC51076ND
2015-02-26AC82115ND
2015-02-26AC82127ND
2016-02-23AD25080ND
2016-02-23AD25078ND
2017-02-21AD71272ND
2017-02-21AD71274ND
2017-05-23AD85279ND
2017-08-25AD94489ND
2017-11-07AE04095ND
2018-02-14AE13802ND
2018-02-14AE13788ND
2018-02-14AE13784ND
2019-04-08AE61410ND
2019-04-08AE61408ND
2019-04-08AE61406ND