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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Robeson County Water System

Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.

Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND100ND
2015ND100ND
2016ND90ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND80ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene chloride) 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-278410-012714-002VND
2014-01-278410-012714-001VND
2014-01-278410-012714-E15VND
2014-01-278410-012714-011VND
2014-01-278410-012714-009VND
2014-01-278410-012714-006VND
2014-01-278410-012714-005VND
2014-01-278410-012714-004VND
2014-01-278410-012714-008VND
2014-05-128410-051214-013VND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-01-12ND
2015-03-16ND
2015-04-13ND
2015-06-08ND
2015-08-03ND
2015-12-01ND
2016-01-118410-011116-011VND
2016-01-118410-011116-012VND
2016-01-118410-011116-014VND
2016-01-118410-011116-E15VND
2016-02-028410-020216-001VND
2016-04-118410-041116-013VND
2016-05-108410-051016-001VND
2016-07-128410-071216-001VND
2016-10-048410-100416-001VND
2017-01-098410-010917-009VND
2017-01-098410-010917-011VND
2017-01-098410-010917-E15VND
2017-01-098410-010917-005VND
2017-01-098410-010917-008VND
2017-01-098410-010917-006VND
2017-01-108410-011017-001VND
2017-01-108410-011017-002VND
2017-01-108410-011017-004VND
2017-03-288410-032817-001VND
2017-06-128410-061217-001VND
2017-06-128410-061217-011VND
2017-07-108410-071017-011VND
2017-07-108410-071017-001VND
2017-10-038410-100317-001VND
2017-10-038410-100317-011VND
2018-01-238410-012318-014VND
2018-01-238410-012318-012VND
2018-01-238410-012318-011VND
2018-01-238410-012318-003VND
2018-01-238410-012318-001VND
2018-04-028410-040218-011VND
2018-06-198410-061918-001VND
2018-07-098410-070918-011VND
2018-09-048410-090418-001VND
2018-10-098410-100918-001VND
2018-10-098410-100918-011VND
2019-01-078410-010719-011VND
2019-01-078410-010719-012VND
2019-01-078410-010719-014VND
2019-03-128410-031219-001VND
2019-04-158410-041519-013VND
2019-04-158410-041519-011VND
2019-07-228410-072219-011VND
2019-10-078410-100719-011VND