1,2-Dichloroethane
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2017-2019:
24
states detected
113
utilities detected
1.5 million
people served
15
states over health guideline
22
utilities over health guideline
292,000
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for 1,2-dichloroethane
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Harm to the stomach and intestines
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
Harm to the brain and nervous system
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
States reporting 1,2-dichloroethane in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Florida | 1 | 280 | 18 | 350,395 | |||
| New York | 3 | 83,446 | 20 | 290,467 | |||
| Michigan | 2 | 196,166 | 2 | 196,166 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 8 | 175,952 | |||
| California | 0 | 0 | 5 | 153,184 | |||
| Minnesota | 1 | 42 | 6 | 82,697 | |||
| Alabama | 1 | 4,764 | 7 | 70,692 | |||
| Louisiana | 2 | 3,789 | 13 | 33,770 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33,000 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25,648 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17,434 | |||
| Nebraska | 1 | 150 | 5 | 12,422 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9,738 | |||
| Texas | 1 | 90 | 3 | 4,597 | |||
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4,288 | |||
| Iowa | 2 | 2,545 | 3 | 4,031 | |||
| Virginia | 1 | 90 | 2 | 1,930 | |||
| Georgia | 1 | 40 | 2 | 1,040 | |||
| North Carolina | 2 | 430 | 4 | 973 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 126 | 2 | 126 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 1 | 126 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 110 | |||
| Missouri | 1 | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||
| Colorado | 1 | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce 1,2-dichloroethane
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of 1,2-dichloroethane, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie View Ranch WD | Greeley, CO | 1 of 5 | 3.06 ppb | 30 |
| Tilden, City of | Tilden, NE | 1 of 5 | 3.06 ppb | 951 |
| Champion Farms Subdivision | Troy, MO | 2 of 7 | 2.14 ppb | 30 |
| Delavan Club Condos | Delavan, WI | 1 of 5 | 1.54 ppb | 25 |
| Traer Municipal Water Plant | Traer, IA | 3 of 8 | 1.08 ppb | 1,703 |
| Hillcrest Water District | Brewster, NY | 6 of 69 | 1.07 ppb | 305 |
| Bolivar-richburg Water System | Wellsville, NY | 1 of 9 | 1.02 ppb | 1,640 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.950 ppb | 81,760 |
| Grove Estates Mobile Home Park | Staten Island, GA | 6 of 10 | 0.849 ppb | 40 |
| Andover Water Department* | Andover, MA | 1 of 1 | 0.700 ppb | 33,201 |
| Parchment | Parchment, MI | 3 of 3 | 0.700 ppb | 3,174 |
| Kalamazoo* | Kalamazoo, MI | 3 of 3 | 0.700 ppb | 192,992 |
| Town of Iota Water System | Iota, LA | 10 of 20 | 0.674 ppb | 1,893 |
| Farm Water Works | Sanford, NC | 1 of 12 | 0.633 ppb | 162 |
| Conroe Oaks | Houston, TX | 1 of 2 | 0.600 ppb | 90 |
| Ausable Heights Water System | Keeseville, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 46 |
| Cumberland County Water System | Cumberland County, VA | 3 of 4 | 0.500 ppb | 1,840 |
| Sunny Crest Home | Morgantown, PA | 1 of 2 | 0.500 ppb | 71 |
| Neola Light & Water | Neola, IA | 2 of 2 | 0.490 ppb | 842 |
| Grants Way Pump District | Dover, DE | 8 of 12 | 0.452 ppb | 237 |
| Prague, Village of | Prague, NE | 8 of 12 | 0.447 ppb | 301 |
| Blaine* | Blaine, MN | 12 of 36 | 0.431 ppb | 66,000 |
| Mountain View Nursing Home | Aroda, VA | 4 of 7 | 0.429 ppb | 90 |
| Harrisburg Water System | Scottsbluff, NE | 1 of 6 | 0.403 ppb | 150 |
| Shadyside Mobile Home Park | Oxford, PA | 6 of 10 | 0.370 ppb | 55 |
| Akron, City of | Akron, IA | 1 of 3 | 0.367 ppb | 1,486 |
| Collingswood Water Depar | Collingswood, NJ | 23 of 50 | 0.363 ppb | 24,500 |
| Heatherstone West S/d | Cary, NC | 6 of 11 | 0.361 ppb | 229 |
| Westbrook Estates | Alexandria, MN | 3 of 4 | 0.350 ppb | 42 |
| Town of Thurmont | Thurmont, MD | 2 of 17 | 0.340 ppb | 6,200 |
| Country Estates Water System South | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 600 |
| Ramsey Water System | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 60 |
| Wildwood Mobile Home Park Ws | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 72 |
| Lincoln Hills Subdivision Ws | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 150 |
| Hidden Oaks Subdivision Ws | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 315 |
| Pecan Lake Subdivision Ws | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 57 |
| Better Waterworks Water System* | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 10 | 0.320 ppb | 2,160 |
| Hoosick Falls | Hoosick Falls, NY | 4 of 19 | 0.316 ppb | 4,925 |
| Goodwill Water System | Oak Grove, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.300 ppb | 1,896 |
| Eutaw Water Department* | Eutaw, AL | 2 of 9 | 0.289 ppb | 4,764 |
| Town of Bunkie Water System | Bunkie, LA | 2 of 20 | 0.270 ppb | 4,393 |
| St. Paul, City of | St Paul, OR | 4 of 10 | 0.270 ppb | 447 |
| Town of Iowa Water System | Iowa, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.267 ppb | 3,300 |
| Bethpage WD | Bethpage, NY | 154 of 941 | 0.259 ppb | 33,000 |
| Monticello Estates | Denver, NC | 3 of 9 | 0.254 ppb | 201 |
| Florida Pines Mobile Home Park | Venice, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 280 |
| Tradewind Water Association | Weldon, CA | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 632 |
| Brandon-brent Water Treatment Plant | Lake City, FL | 1 of 7 | 0.214 ppb | 270 |
| Highway 1148 Water System | Plaquemine, LA | 4 of 28 | 0.205 ppb | 1,086 |
| City of Plaquemine Water System* | Plaquemine, LA | 4 of 28 | 0.205 ppb | 14,043 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report 1,2-Dichloroethane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.950 ppb | 81,760 |
| Andover Water Department* | Andover, MA | 1 of 1 | 0.700 ppb | 33,201 |
| Kalamazoo* | Kalamazoo, MI | 3 of 3 | 0.700 ppb | 192,992 |
| Blaine* | Blaine, MN | 12 of 36 | 0.431 ppb | 66,000 |
| Collingswood Water Depar | Collingswood, NJ | 23 of 50 | 0.363 ppb | 24,500 |
| Bethpage WD | Bethpage, NY | 154 of 941 | 0.259 ppb | 33,000 |
| City of Plaquemine Water System* | Plaquemine, LA | 4 of 28 | 0.205 ppb | 14,043 |
| Midvale City Water System | Midvale, UT | 4 of 65 | 0.145 ppb | 33,000 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 117 of 1,392 | 0.144 ppb | 48,000 |
| West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority* | Decatur, AL | 1 of 8 | 0.138 ppb | 30,000 |
| St John Water District 1* | Laplace, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.1000 ppb | 12,577 |
| East Jefferson Waterworks District 1 | Jefferson, LA | 2 of 48 | 0.0625 ppb | 243,782 |
| Bordentown Water Departm* | Bordentown, NJ | 5 of 23 | 0.0509 ppb | 15,821 |
| Alexandria | Alexandria, MN | 5 of 37 | 0.0457 ppb | 13,340 |
| Freeport | Freeport, IL | 1 of 17 | 0.0347 ppb | 25,648 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 11 of 214 | 0.0207 ppb | 19,000 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 14 | 0.0179 ppb | 127,700 |
| Merchantville Pennsauken | Pennsauken, NJ | 4 of 140 | 0.0172 ppb | 47,144 |
| City of Santa Fe Water System* | Santa Fe, NM | 2 of 18 | 0.0161 ppb | 78,247 |
| Wallingford Water Department | Wallingford, CT | 1 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 37,267 |
| Northwest Utilities* | Tampa, FL | 1 of 19 | 0.0132 ppb | 202,326 |
| United Water Camden | Camden, NJ | 5 of 45 | 0.0111 ppb | 46,585 |
| Golden State Water Company (GSWC) - Norwalk | Rancho Cordova, CA | 6 of 614 | 0.0105 ppb | 44,466 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.0103 ppb | 251,502 |
| Gateway Services District | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.0103 ppb | 12,717 |
| Vineland Water & Sewer Utility | Vineland, NJ | 4 of 159 | 0.00799 ppb | 36,250 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 2 of 47 | 0.00738 ppb | 34,700 |
| Golden State Water Company (GSWC) - Florence/Graham | Rancho Cordova, CA | 4 of 482 | 0.00473 ppb | 65,492 |
| Wright-Patterson AFB Area B PWS | Wright Patterson Afb, OH | 1 of 122 | 0.00443 ppb | 11,034 |
| Garden City | Garden City, NY | 3 of 733 | 0.00278 ppb | 46,000 |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power* | Los Angeles, CA | 2 of 451 | 0.00252 ppb | 3,935,257 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 2 of 198 | 0.00248 ppb | 235,000 |
| Manhasset Lakeville WD* | Great Neck, NY | 1 of 553 | 0.000922 ppb | 44,600 |
| Jericho Water District | Syosset, NY | 1 of 1,088 | 0.000873 ppb | 58,000 |
| United Water New York* | West Nyack, NY | 1 of 872 | 0.000573 ppb | 270,950 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report 1,2-Dichloroethane, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.