1,4-Dioxane
Paramount Water Department
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.456 ppb | 9 | 2 | ND - 2.10 ppb |
| 2014 | 2.43 ppb | 4 | 4 | 2.30 ppb - 2.60 ppb |
| 2015 | 2.43 ppb | 4 | 4 | 2.20 ppb - 2.60 ppb |
| 2016 | 2.10 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.60 ppb - 2.60 ppb |
| 2017 | 2.03 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.90 ppb - 2.10 ppb |
| 2018 | 2.10 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.90 ppb - 2.30 ppb |
| 2019 | 1.85 ppb | 4 | 4 | 1.80 ppb - 2.00 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-29 | 440-36406-1 | ND |
| 2013-01-29 | 440-36406-3 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2013-01-29 | 440-36406-7 | ND |
| 2013-04-29 | 440-44940-1 | ND |
| 2013-07-31 | 2869230 | ND |
| 2013-07-31 | 2869275 | 2.10 ppb |
| 2013-07-31 | 2869284 | ND |
| 2013-07-31 | 2869264 | ND |
| 2013-10-31 | 2923927 | ND |
| 2014-01-30 | 9588-016-1115 | 2.60 ppb |
| 2014-04-28 | 9588-016-1127 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2014-07-29 | 9588-016-0940 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2014-10-29 | 9588-016-1048 | 2.30 ppb |
| 2015-01-29 | 9588-016-1555 | 2.50 ppb |
| 2015-04-27 | 9588-016-0945 | 2.20 ppb |
| 2015-07-16 | 9588-016-0935 | 2.60 ppb |
| 2015-10-26 | 9588-016-0940 | 2.40 ppb |
| 2016-03-21 | 9588-016-0923 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2016-04-29 | 9588-016-0923 | 2.60 ppb |
| 2016-07-11 | 9588-016-1004 | 2.20 ppb |
| 2016-10-17 | 9588-016-1010 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2017-01-23 | 9588-016-1000 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2017-04-03 | 9588-016-1020 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2017-07-03 | 9588-016-1012 | 2.10 ppb |
| 2017-10-02 | 9588-016-1014 | 2.10 ppb |
| 2018-01-08 | 9588-016-1031 | 2.20 ppb |
| 2018-04-16 | 9588-016-0940 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2018-07-12 | 9588-016-1005 | 2.30 ppb |
| 2018-10-15 | 9588-016-1005 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2019-01-07 | 9588-016-1014 | 2.00 ppb |
| 2019-04-03 | 9588-016-1010 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2019-07-08 | 9588-016-1030 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2019-10-07 | 9588-016-1010 | 1.80 ppb |