Consumer Factsheet on: DIOXIN (2,3,7,8-TCDD)

As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What is Dioxin and how is it used?

Dioxin is an organic solid of white crystalline needles. Dioxin is not produced or used commercially in the US. It is a contaminant formed in the production of some chlorinated organic compounds, including a few herbicides such as silvex. It may also be formed during combustion of a variety of chlorinated organic compounds.

The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or work.

Trade Names and Synonyms:

Dioxin
Tetradioxin

Why is Dioxin being Regulated?

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.

The MCLG for dioxin has been set at zero because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below.

Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.

The MCL has been set at 0.00003 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.

These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these regulations.

What are the Health Effects?
Short-term: EPA has found dioxin to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: liver damage, weight loss, wasting of glands important to the body’s immune system.

Long-term: Dioxin has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: a variety of reproductive effects, from reduced fertility to birth defects; cancer.