1,4-Dioxane
Altoona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | ND | 5 | 0 | ND |
| 2014 | ND | 16 | 0 | ND |
| 2015 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-11-18 | 201311190095AM | ND |
| 2013-11-18 | 201311190134AM | ND |
| 2013-11-19 | 201311200367AM | ND |
| 2013-11-19 | 201311200627AM | ND |
| 2013-11-19 | 201311200331AM | ND |
| 2014-02-25 | 201402260726AM | ND |
| 2014-02-25 | 201402260667AM | ND |
| 2014-02-25 | 201402260624AM | ND |
| 2014-02-26 | 201402270331AM | ND |
| 2014-02-26 | 201402270177AM | ND |
| 2014-02-26 | 201402270315AM | ND |
| 2014-05-27 | 201405280308AM | ND |
| 2014-05-27 | 201405280302AM | ND |
| 2014-05-28 | 201405290423AM | ND |
| 2014-05-28 | 201405290463AM | ND |
| 2014-05-28 | 201405290639AM | ND |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210520AM | ND |
| 2014-08-20 | 201408210522AM | ND |
| 2014-08-21 | 201408220555AM | ND |
| 2014-08-21 | 201408220452AM | ND |
| 2014-08-21 | 201408220529AM | ND |