1,4-Dioxane
North Maine Utilities
NOTE: North Maine Utilities purchases water from Niles which is required to test for 1,4-dioxane. Sample information shown below was taken by Niles.
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 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
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
NOTE: North Maine Utilities purchases water from Niles which is required to test for 1,4-dioxane. Sample information shown below was taken by Niles.
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-09-09 | 27046201 | ND |
2014-12-09 | 27731401 | ND |
2015-03-10 | 28389201 | ND |
2015-06-09 | 29297501 | ND |