Tips for Taps Blog

The Dangers of Dioxane in Drinking Water

The Dangers of Dioxane in Drinking Water

Published on by Kate Wisialowski  

The Industrial Chemical Contaminating Your Tap Water

Water supplies for more than 7 million Americans in 27 states are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. This industrial chemical has been detected at levels higher than what federal scientists say poses a minimal lifetime risk of cancer, according to an EWG analysis.[1]

But, what does that mean?

Simply put, the minimal lifetime cancer risk is the level of 1,4-dioxane expected to cause no more than one case of cancer for every million people who drink the water daily for their lifetime.

What is 1,4-Dioxane and How Does it Get Into Drinking Water?

Classified as an ether, 1,4-dioxane is a colorless liquid with a faint, sweet odor.[2] It is unstable at elevated temperatures and pressure, and may form explosive mixtures if exposed to light or air for prolonged periods.

Most 1,4-dioxane contamination of drinking water comes from leaking underground storage tanks at hazardous waste sites, or discharges from manufacturing plants.[1] It can also be found in many common personal care products, laundry detergents, and dish soaps. However, tracing contamination to the source is difficult because manufacturers do not have to report discharges of the chemical. What’s more is that when a source is identified, there is little regulators can do to stop contamination–as there are very few enforceable standards.

Once it makes its way into sources of drinking water, 1,4-dioxane tends to stay there–as it does not break down easily. It is completely miscible in water, highly mobile (which means it travels), and very resistant to microbial degradation.[3]

Exposure to 1,4-Dioxane: What Does It Mean for Your Health?

There are various routes of exposure–each of which may also lead to a wide array of human health effects. Means of exposure include:

  • Inhalation of vapors
  • Ingestion of contaminated food and water
  • Dermal (i.e. skin) contact

    • Symptoms of 1,4-dioxane exposure include:[4]

    Short term impacts

  • Nausea
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache
  • Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat

    • Long term impacts

  • Dermatitis
  • Eczema
  • Drying and cracking of skin
  • Liver and kidney damage
  • Cancer

    • EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” by all routes of exposure.[4] The minimal cancer risk level of 0.35 parts per billion (PPB). This equates to approximately one drop in three Olympic-size swimming pools.

    Regulation of 1,4-Dioxane

    There is no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) set for 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. However, it has been included in the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL)–an ever-growing list of drinking water contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems, which are not (yet) currently subject to EPA regulations.

    While lacking enforceable regulation,1,4-dioxane is one of the first 10 chemicals the Environmental Protection Agency picked for review under the Toxic Substances Control Act.[5] Unfortunately, review and regulation are a never-ending game of catch-up–meaning that the processes could take years with no guarantee of any action. To put the rate and speed at which regulation happens, the EPA has not set standards for any new drinking water contaminant in more than 17 years.[6]

    What Can You Do About 1,4-Dioxane in Your Tap Water?

    Unfortunately, many conventional water treatment options and most in-home water filters do not remove 1,4-dioxane effectively due to its low vapor pressure and high solubility. Of available treatment options, however, UV advanced oxidation processes has been shown to be most effective.

    While removing 1,4-dioxane in your water is challenging, it is important to think about longer-term solutions. These include:

  • Push for state and federal oversight in order to stop the chemical for getting into the water supply.
  • Urge your local utilities company to install the appropriate technology.
  • Use databases like EWG’s Skin Deep and Guide to Healthy Cleaning to find products that don’t contain 1,4-dioxane.[7],[8]
  • Read labels and avoid using products with chemicals ending in ‘-eth’ and ’-oxynol’ because 1,4-dioxane can result as an impurity via the manufacturing process.

    •
    author portrait
    About The Author
    Kate Wisialowski

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Kate leads operational strategy as COO at Tap Score and SimpleLab. She oversees daily, as well as long-term logistics for tens of thousands of environmental samples across hundreds of certified laboratories. However, she started her environmental testing career by way of scientific blog writing at Tap Score and it continues to be one of her favorite aspects of the business. Outside of Tap Score, Kate loves making homemade pasta, floral arranging, and singing along to Dolly Parton tunes.
    PREVIOUS NEXT

    About Tap Score

    Tap Score combines world-class laboratory science with customer service to ensure testing your drinking water is simple, fast and factual. Everything we do is driven by data and supported by a team of experts ready to answer your questions. Let’s get started.

    Related Topics

    Related Articles

    › back to top

    Related Articles

    1 3

    Shop our most
    popular tests

    • I Have City Water
    • City Water
    • I Have Well Water
    • Well Water
    Core Kit

    Essential City Water Test

    49 Analytes Tested

    Basic test panel for water utility customers primarily concerned by metals, aging pipes, and infrastructure.

    $301.00 AUD
    $333.00 AUD $301.00 AUD
    5 Days in Lab
    Core Kit

    Advanced City Water Test

    111 Analytes Tested

    Ideal baseline for testing tap water provided by a local water utility–including metals, minerals, and chlorine-related byproducts.

    $484.00 AUD
    $543.00 AUD $484.00 AUD
    5 Days in Lab
    MOST POPULAR