Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 10.1
Chronology of Available Information on 1,4-Dioxane Hazards
Year
Information Source
References
1934
1,4-Dioxane animal toxicity study published
Fairley et al. (1934)
1934
Report on fatalities from massive 1,4-dioxane exposure
Barber (1934)
1965
Publication of 1,4-dioxane carcinogenicity study
Argus et al. (1965)
1965
Navy report on composition of methyl chloroform
Saunders (1965)
1968
Beckman Instruments promotes dioxane-free scintillation l uid to avoid
“bad side effects associated with dioxane”
Beckman Instruments (1968)
1970
Two-year study of 1,4-dioxane inhalation in rats published
Hoch-Ligeti et al. (1970)
1970
1,4-Dioxane recognized as a by-product of PET plastic production process
Hovenkamp and Munting (1970)
1972
Beckman Instruments Advertisement: “Turn off dioxane danger”
Beckman Instruments (1972)
1976
Manufacturing Chemists' Association funds research into toxicity of
epichlorohydrin, a solvent stabilizer formerly used with TCE, and an
epoxy resin component a
MCA (1976)
1977
Drinking water analysis study detects 1,4-dioxane
Donaldson (1977)
1978
1,4-Dioxane recognized as one of the top eight air pollutants for which
emission reductions are recommended in New Jersey
Chemical Week (1978)
1979
FDA announces that hundreds of cosmetics and sundries contain
1,4-dioxane
Washington Post (1979)
1979
Groundwater study detects methyl chloroform in 835 of 1071 New Jersey
groundwater samples (78%) in 1977-1979
Page (1981)
1980
Publication: Identii cation of potential carcinogens in technical grade
methyl chloroform
Henschler et al. (1980)
1981
USEPA phase 1 risk assessment for 1,4-dioxane
USEPA (1981)
1982
Controversy over 1,4-dioxane in contraceptive sponges and spermicidal
lubricants
Medical Economics Publishing
(1983)
1984
USEPA Groundwater Primer identii es 1,4-dioxane as a contaminant
USEPA (1984)
1986
30 private wells discovered contaminated with 1,4-dioxane near Ann Arbor,
Michigan (see Chapter 8, Pall Life Sciences Case Study)
Fotouhi et al. (2006)
1988
USEPA publishes heated purge and trap method capable of 1,4-dioxane
detection
Lucas et al. (1988)
1989
Publication: Reclamation and reprocessing of spent solvent
Tarrer et al. (1989)
a
While the research by MCA did not address 1,4-dioxane toxicity, it demonstrates awareness that solvent stabilizers can
impart toxicity to vapor degreasing grades of solvents.
known since at least 1950, and a method with a detection limit of 10
g/L was published as early as
1953 (Amter and Ross, 2001). The following commentary was issued in response to an editorial
titled “Once Again Blindsided!” published in the National Ground Water Association Newsletter,
which raised the question of whether groundwater professionals should also have known about the
threat posed by 1,4-dioxane (Mohr and Crowley, 2001): “Water quality professionals were only
partially blindsided; at least some people, in some places, were concerned before others. Furthermore,
past limitations in detection technology weren't as dire as is often believed, and thus can't fully
explain the situation in which we now i nd ourselves” (Amter, S., Disposal Safety Inc., Washington,
D.C., personal communication, 2002).
The blindsiding effect of 1,4-dioxane continues, extending beyond the realm of groundwater
contamination. In 2007, a survey of 1,4-dioxane content in children's bath products revealed that the
FDA's limits for 1,4-dioxane in ethoxylated surfactants were exceeded in numerous products, includ-
ing imported products. In 2008, California's attorney general sued a major retailer of organic food
μ
Search WWH ::




Custom Search