1,4-Dioxane
Western Virginia Water Authority
1,4-Dioxane is a solvent classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. It contaminates groundwater in many states due to industrial wastewater discharges, plastic manufacturing runoff and landfill runoff. Read More.
Animal studies show that 1,4-dioxane can target the liver, kidneys and respiratory system, and that prenatal exposure can harm the developing fetus. The State of California has set a Public Heatlh Goal of no more than 1 part per billion of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. The state of Massachusetts sets a legal limit of 0.3 ppb, and New Hampshire's limit is 3 parts per billion. There is no national drinking water standard for this contaminant.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0187 ppb | 36 | 7 | ND - 0.120 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.0240 ppb | 5 | 1 | ND - 0.120 ppb |
| 2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.35 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.35 ppb for 1,4-dioxane was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-04-09 | 35133733001AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 35134288005AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 35134288003AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 35134288001AM | ND |
| 2014-04-15 | 35134430003AM | ND |
| 2014-04-15 | 35134430007AM | ND |
| 2014-04-15 | 35134430005AM | 0.0920 ppb |
| 2014-04-15 | 35134430001AM | 0.0760 ppb |
| 2014-04-16 | 35134685001AM | ND |
| 2014-04-16 | 35134685003AM | ND |
| 2014-04-21 | 35135129003AM | ND |
| 2014-04-21 | 35135129001AM | ND |
| 2014-04-22 | 35135246001AM | ND |
| 2014-04-22 | 35135246003AM | ND |
| 2014-04-23 | 35135566003AM | ND |
| 2014-04-23 | 35135566001AM | ND |
| 2014-07-22 | 35147500003AM | ND |
| 2014-07-22 | 35147500001AM | ND |
| 2014-07-23 | 35147678001AM | 0.110 ppb |
| 2014-07-29 | 35148388001AM | ND |
| 2014-10-21 | 35160675003AM | 0.0920 ppb |
| 2014-10-21 | 35160675001AM | ND |
| 2014-10-21 | 35160675005AM | ND |
| 2014-10-22 | 35160822007AM | 0.1000 ppb |
| 2014-10-22 | 35160822003AM | ND |
| 2014-10-22 | 35160822005AM | ND |
| 2014-10-22 | 35160822001AM | ND |
| 2014-10-27 | 35161412001AM | ND |
| 2014-10-27 | 35161412003AM | ND |
| 2014-10-27 | 35161412005AM | 0.0840 ppb |
| 2014-10-29 | 35161806005AM | ND |
| 2014-10-29 | 35161806003AM | 0.120 ppb |
| 2014-10-29 | 35161806001AM | ND |
| 2014-10-29 | 35161806007AM | ND |
| 2014-10-29 | 35161806009AM | ND |
| 2014-11-24 | 35165509001AM | ND |
| 2015-01-14 | 35171716001AM | ND |
| 2015-01-26 | 35173052003AM | 0.120 ppb |
| 2015-01-26 | 35173052001AM | ND |
| 2015-01-28 | 35173425001AM | ND |
| 2015-12-17 | 35222266001AM | ND |