1,4-Dioxane
City of Alexandria
NOTE: City of Alexandria purchases water from Fairfax County Water Authority which is required to test for 1,4-dioxane. Sample information shown below was taken by Fairfax County 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 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
| 2015 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 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
NOTE: City of Alexandria purchases water from Fairfax County Water Authority which is required to test for 1,4-dioxane. Sample information shown below was taken by Fairfax County Water Authority.
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-07-17 | 201307180811AM | ND |
| 2013-07-17 | 201307180820AM | ND |
| 2013-07-17 | 201307180822AM | ND |
| 2013-07-17 | 201307180828AM | ND |
| 2013-07-17 | 201307180824AM | ND |
| 2013-10-15 | 201310160171AM | ND |
| 2013-10-15 | 201310160176AM | ND |
| 2013-10-15 | 201310160200AM | ND |
| 2013-10-15 | 201310160208AM | ND |
| 2013-10-15 | 201310160210AM | ND |
| 2014-01-13 | 201401140197AM | ND |
| 2014-01-13 | 201401150723AM | ND |
| 2014-01-13 | 201401150621AM | ND |
| 2014-01-13 | 201401140199AM | ND |
| 2014-01-14 | 201401150684AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 201404150283AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 201404150441AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 201404150439AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 201404150219AM | ND |
| 2014-04-14 | 201404150405AM | ND |