Indiana Town's 1,4-Dioxane Concerns Reflect National Risks

The threat of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water may be more pervasive than many thought and some communities are concerned about the health of their consumers.

While the U.S. EPA recommended level for the chemical, which is used as an industrial solvent, is 0.35 ppb, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found water supplies across the country to be at risk.

“An unregulated cancer-causing industrial solvent, which is also a hidden impurity in cosmetics and household cleaners, was found in samples from water supplies for nearly 90 million Americans in 45 states, according to test data from local utilities analyzed by EWG,” the group reported. “The EPA classified 1,4-dioxane as a ‘likely’ human carcinogen… Despite the known health risks, the EPA has set no enforceable legal limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”

One community with growing concern about the contamination can be found in Columbus, IN. According to records from 2013, water at the Columbus Municipal Utility and nearby Southwestern Bartholomew Water measured at 0.482 parts per billion, according to TheIndyChannel.com.

“These records are slightly elevated,” said David Andrews, a senior scientist with the EWG. “I’d be very concerned about this contaminant, and it’s something I’d definitely monitor.”

Because the data from 2013 is the most recent set that the community has, it’s impossible to say whether 1,4-dioxane levels have grown or shrunk. Either way, a lack of data is never good.

“It’s really quite concerning that the most recent test results for many systems are outdated,” Andrews said, per TheIndyChannel.com.

The Columbus Utilities director, Keith Reeves, told TheIndyChannel.com in an email that the utility plans to run new tests to determine the extent to which the issue persists.

“Reeves pointed out they are in compliance with all currently regulated contaminants for drinking water,” the report noted.

To read more about 1,4-Dioxane issues visit Water Online’s Source Water Contamination Solutions Center.