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Drinking Water Contaminants- Dichloromethane (DCM)

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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 DCM and how is it used? Dichloromethane (DCM) is a colorless organic liquid with a sweet, chloroform-like odor. The greatest use of DCM is as a paint remover. Other uses include: solvent and cleaning agent in a variety of industries, a fumigant for strawberries and grains; and to extract substances from foodstuffs. The list of synonyms given below may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or work. Trade Names and Synonyms: DCM Methylene chloride Why is DCM 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 dichloromethane 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 5 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 dichloromethane to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: Damage to the nervous system and to blood. Long-term: Dichloromethane has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: liver damage; cancer. How much DCM is produced and released to the environment? Production of DCM has been decreasing: from a high of 561 million lbs. in 1986, to roughly 410 million lbs. in 1993. It is released in wastewater primarily from the following industries: Paint and ink, aluminum forming, coal mining, photographic equipment and supplies, pharmaceutical, organic chemical/plastics, metal foundries and laundries. DCM is also formed during the chlorination of water. From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemical Release Inventory, DCM releases to land and water totalled over 2.1 million lbs. These releases were primarily from medicinals and botanicals industries. The largest releases occurred in Connecticut and New York. What happens to DCM when it is released to the environment? Most DCM is released to air where it is degraded by sunlight within a few months. Releases to water evaporate very quickly. It will evaporate from soil but can also leach through soil to ground water. DCM is not likely to accumulate in aquatic life. How will DCM be Detected in and Removed from My Drinking Water? The regulation for dichloromethane became effective in 1994. Between 1993 and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months for one year and analyze them to find out if dichloromethane is present above 0.5 ppb. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant. If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of dichloromethane so that it is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing dichloromethane: Granular activated charcoal in combination with Packed Tower Aeration. How will I know if DCM is in my drinking water? If the levels of dichloromethane exceed the MCL, 5 ppb, the system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health. Drinking Water Standards: Mclg: zero Mcl: 5 ppb DCM Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):   Water Land TOTALS (in pounds) 1,544,694 556,830 Top Ten States* CT 940,158 0 NY 58,400 155,755 GA 166,700 0 NJ 138,302 2,721 WI 0 139,920 SC 20,860 52,810 MI 39,575 32,900 KS 0 33,489 MO 0 27,295 TX 15,910 823 Major Industries* Medicinals, botanicals 1,106,858 0 Photographic supplies 58,400 155,755 Misc Indust. organics 141,942 53,741 Custom plastics, resins 0 139,920 Pharmaceuticals 37,575 0 Potato/corn chips&snacks 2,000 32,900 Air conditioning/heating 0 33,489 Steel pipe, tubing 0 27,295 * Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater than a certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 lbs.   As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger U.S. EPA publication: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

We at reverse-osmosis-water-filter-guide.com is dedicated to help you find the best reverse osmosis drinking water filter systems. Our site discuss the "must-read" of buying reverse osmosis filters, topics including:

• How to find a top quality reverse osmosis water filter..the facts you need to know before you buy
• Reviews of different water filtration methods and of major brands/configurations of reverse osmosis water filters
• How to test your water so you know your reverse osmosis system is working in its top condition.
• Is bottled water really the safest? How does it compare to reverse osmosis purification systems?
• What are the different types of bottled water and their quality? What type of drinking water is the safest and healthiest
• Does your area have a water pollution problem? How many and which contaminants can reverse osmosis filters effectively remove?
• How do reverse osmosis filters give you the purest water? Reverse osmosis filtration technology explained in detail.
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Editor's Note: Do You Know What's In The Water That You're Drinking?
In 1993, the City of Milwaukee Wisconsin experienced a sad tragic event. People died from contamination in the public water supply. Cryptosporidium cysts poisoned over 100,000 people. Over 1000 people were hospitalized and nearly 100 people died. As a result of this, Milwaukee changed their water treatment facilities. People deserve safe, clean water both for drinking and for bathing. No one wants to wonder whether or not they are going to be poisoned by their water supply..
Water filtration should be the answer however studies have shown that many water filters out there only remove a small percentage of these harmful contaminants. We are promoting reverse osmosis technology because reverse osmosis has proved itself to be the ultimate and the most economical water purification method.