Where It Comes From
Made to produce other chemicals/solvents; also forms when TCE or PCE break down in soil and groundwater; common at hazardous waste sites [1].
How You Are Exposed
Breathing indoor air from contaminated water during showering/cooking; drinking private well water; workplace air in manufacturing/cleaning; living near spills or waste sites [1][2].
Why It Matters
High short-term exposure can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and eye/airway irritation; can affect the liver and nervous system. Long-term data are limited; EPA does not classify it as a human carcinogen. EPA’s drinking water limit is 70 µg/L (ppb) [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
Workers handling chlorinated solvents; people using private wells near contaminated plumes; infants, pregnant people, and those with liver disease may be more sensitive [1].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Test private wells; use certified treatment for VOCs (granular activated carbon or aeration); ventilate during solvent use; follow workplace PPE; ask local officials about vapor-intrusion mitigation if near a site [1][2].
References
- [1]ATSDR. ToxFAQs for 1,2-Dichloroethene (1,2-Dichloroethylene). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
- [2]EPA. Consumer Factsheet on 1,2-Dichloroethylene; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
- [3]EPA IRIS. cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (CASRN 156-59-2). Integrated Risk Information System.