1,4-Dioxane
Aqua NJ - Phillipsburg
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 | 0.263 ppb | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.520 ppb |
| 2015 | 0.230 ppb | 1 | 1 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2016 | 0.230 ppb | 2 | 2 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.995 ppb | 4 | 4 | 0.320 ppb - 2.70 ppb |
| 2018 | 0.437 ppb | 3 | 3 | 0.320 ppb - 0.510 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.587 ppb | 3 | 3 | 0.380 ppb - 0.820 ppb |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-25 | 201406270455AM | 0.520 ppb |
| 2014-06-25 | 201406270449AM | ND |
| 2014-09-23 | 201409250635AM | 0.310 ppb |
| 2014-12-08 | 201412110348AM | 0.220 ppb |
| 2015-03-16 | 201503180653AM | 0.230 ppb |
| 2016-09-07 | 201605310056 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2016-11-30 | 201612010390 | 0.230 ppb |
| 2017-02-21 | 201611290157 | 2.70 ppb |
| 2017-05-22 | 201702280030 | 0.420 ppb |
| 2017-08-22 | 201708230800 | 0.540 ppb |
| 2017-11-28 | 201711290256 | 0.320 ppb |
| 2018-03-13 | 201803141111 | 0.320 ppb |
| 2018-05-01 | 201805021240 | 0.480 ppb |
| 2018-09-19 | 2018009200677 | 0.510 ppb |
| 2019-03-20 | 201903210326 | 0.820 ppb |
| 2019-04-24 | 201904250368 | 0.560 ppb |
| 2019-09-18 | 201909190554 | 0.380 ppb |