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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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1,2-Dichloroethane

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1,2-Dichloroethane is a volatile carcinogenic chemical used to make plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride. Read More.

Also known as ethylene dichloride, it has been widely used as an intermediate for manufacturing other chemicals and as a solvent. 1,2-Dichloroethane causes multiple types of cancer in animal studies, and damages liver, kidneys, and the immune and nervous systems. The EPA classifies 1,2-dichloroethane as a probable human carcinogen.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

16

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
2014ND10ND
2015ND10ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND10ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for 1,2-dichloroethane 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 1,2-dichloroethane, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to 1,2-dichloroethane exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-06-120080049_14_05416ND
2015-08-19E16000687001ND
2016-05-24E16004456001ND
2016-05-24E16004461001ND
2016-05-24E16004451001ND
2016-08-10E17000586003ND
2016-08-2427608_000001ND
2016-10-24E17001823005ND
2016-10-24E17001823007ND
2016-10-24E17001823001ND
2017-06-28E17005216006ND
2019-04-043026085001ND
2019-04-19E19003516004ND
2019-06-13E19004319004ND
2019-06-14E19004334001ND
2019-10-08E20001383001ND