p-Dichlorobenzene
City of Austin Water & Wastewater
p-Dichlorobenzene is a carcinogenic insecticide used in mothballs, and added to deodorant blocks made for trash cans and toilets. Long-term exposure can cause liver damage and kidney problems.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 6 | 0 | ND |
2016 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
2017 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
2018 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
2019 | ND | 3 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 6 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 6 ppb for p-dichlorobenzene was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 75 ppb
The legal limit for p-dichlorobenzene, established in 1987, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to p-dichlorobenzene exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-08-19 | AC64332 | ND |
2014-08-19 | AC64304 | ND |
2015-03-23 | AC85661 | ND |
2015-05-28 | AC93641 | ND |
2015-09-01 | AD05216 | ND |
2015-09-01 | AD05218 | ND |
2015-09-01 | AD05224 | ND |
2015-11-17 | AD13846 | ND |
2016-02-25 | AD25739 | ND |
2016-09-08 | AD48510 | ND |
2016-09-08 | AD48512 | ND |
2017-03-09 | AD74430 | ND |
2017-08-01 | AD91611 | ND |
2017-08-01 | AD91609 | ND |
2018-02-06 | AE12498 | ND |
2018-08-02 | AE35598 | ND |
2018-08-02 | AE35600 | ND |
2019-02-07 | AE53484 | ND |
2019-08-15 | AE78986 | ND |
2019-08-15 | AE78984 | ND |