1,4-Dioxane

The Remediation Standard Regulations do not contain numeric cleanup standards for emerging contaminants, but do require remediation using the procedures for Additional Polluting Substances (APS).  Regulated parties and their environmental professionals should consider whether emerging contaminants are constituents of concern when evaluating Phase I information and test for those emerging contaminants where warranted.  Doing so will help avoid uncertainty, audits, and further work in the future.  If emerging contaminants are detected, please contact the Department in advance of submitting APS criteria approval to clarify any issues.  APS criteria for 1,4-dioxane are available on the APS Fast Track form.

Where is it  found?

• Associated with chlorinated solvent contamination
• Stabilizer for TCA, possibly other chlorinated solvents
• Cellulose acetate membrane filters
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Laboratories
• Car wash concentrated soaps
• Scintillation counting cocktails/ Bray’s Solution
• Histology tissue preservative
• Brominated flame retardants 
• Textiles
• Pulp, paper, and fiber manufacture, especially coated paper
• Magnetic tape production
• Inks and printing
• Painting, coating and stripping
• Polymers, plastics, and rubber
• Loosening agent for hardware
• Dyes, greases, varnishes and waxes
• Byproduct of PET plastic, ethoxylated surfactant, resin, and antifreeze production
• Aircraft deicing fluid
• Personal care products
• Landfills

 Analytic Method/Media/Notes

• EPA Method 522 – drinking water
• Modified EPA Method 8260 or 8270 with SIM
• Completely soluble 
• Leaches readily from soil to groundwater and migrates rapidly
• Pure product is volatile, but does not volatilize once dissolved in water

Please Note:   New information about emerging contaminants should be expected, as research is ongoing.  You are advised to complete your own research to determine whether emerging contaminants are contaminants of concern at a particular site.

Connecticut

• DEEP Remediation Roundtable: May 8, 2012 1,4-Dioxane Presentation (begins at slide 103)
• DPH 1,4-Dioxane in Well Water 
• CT DPH Updated Drinking Water Action Level List for Private Wells 

Federal

• EPA CLU-IN 1,4-Dioxane Overview - numerous state and federal links regarding all aspects of 1,4-dioxane
• EPA Technical Fact Sheet on 1,4-Dioxane - general information
• EPA Treatment Technologies for 1,4-Dioxane: Fundamentals and Field Technologies - 2006 booklet
• EPA Emerging Contaminants and Federal Facility Contaminants of Concern
• SERDP/ESTCP Webinar: 1,4-Dioxane Impacts and Innovative Cleanup Technologies at DoD Contaminated Sites (April 6, 2017)
• SERDP-ESTCP Tools and Training - Dept. of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program-Environmental Security Technology Certification Program videos, webinars, and guidance documents

Organizations

• ITRC 1,4 Dioxane - includes fact sheets prepared by the ITRC 1,4-Dioxane Team

Other States

• MA DEP Emerging Contaminants - MA initiatives on emerging contaminants
• MA Fact Sheet Guidance on Sampling and Analysis for 1,4-Dioxane at Disposal Sites Regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan - DEEP concurs with the information provided in the Sampling/Analysis portion of the Fact Sheet. However, the information in this factsheet should be thoughtfully considered by the LEP with respect to Connecticut’s statutes, regulations, and standard of care
• NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute (under Public Comments tab) -  includes presentation regarding 1,4-dioxane
  

Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Content last updated January 4, 2020