p-Dichlorobenzene
East Bridgewater Water Department
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2020 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2021 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
| 2022 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2023 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
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 | Result |
|---|---|
| 2018-02-27 | ND |
| 2018-10-30 | ND |
| 2019-01-24 | ND |
| 2019-11-13 | ND |
| 2020-02-25 | ND |
| 2020-11-05 | ND |
| 2021-02-03 | ND |
| 2021-12-14 | ND |
| 2022-12-06 | ND |
| 2023-01-24 | ND |
| 2023-12-06 | ND |