1,4-Dioxane
La Crosse Waterworks
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 | 0.0499 ppb | 22 | 7 | ND - 0.220 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.0850 ppb | 4 | 2 | ND - 0.210 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-09 | 201406100164AM | ND |
| 2014-06-09 | 201406100167AM | 0.220 ppb |
| 2014-06-09 | 201406100209AM | ND |
| 2014-06-09 | 201406100207AM | ND |
| 2014-06-09 | 201406100397AM | ND |
| 2014-06-09 | 201406100213AM | ND |
| 2014-06-10 | 201406110853AM | 0.1000 ppb |
| 2014-06-10 | 201406110900AM | ND |
| 2014-06-10 | 201406110967AM | 0.180 ppb |
| 2014-06-10 | 201406110898AM | 0.200 ppb |
| 2014-06-10 | 201406110893AM | ND |
| 2014-06-24 | 201406250372AM | ND |
| 2014-07-23 | 201407240488AM | 0.0870 ppb |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090769AM | ND |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090513AM | 0.180 ppb |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090588AM | ND |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090773AM | 0.130 ppb |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090550AM | ND |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090775AM | ND |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090511AM | ND |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412090763AM | ND |
| 2014-12-09 | 201412100782AM | ND |
| 2015-05-04 | 201505050286AM | 0.130 ppb |
| 2015-06-16 | 201506040135AM | ND |
| 2015-06-16 | 201506040131AM | ND |
| 2015-06-16 | 201506040133AM | 0.210 ppb |