New 1,4-Dioxane Findings and Heightened Regulatory Interest
1,4-dioxane is an emerging groundwater contaminant that has been the focus of increasing regulatory interest at both the Federal and State levels. Until recently, few studies have empirically evaluated the co-occurrence of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater with chlorinated solvents other than 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) and 1,1,1-TCA degradation byproducts. A recent study has caught the attention of theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state regulators—the important findings are summarized below.
According to the authors of a recent peer reviewed article, their analyses, “conclusively demonstrate for the first time that 1,4-dioxane is a relatively common groundwater co-contaminant with TCE.”[1] The study analyzed a subset of data from 5,788 monitoring wells at 49 United States Air Force Installations and was conducted by researchers affiliated with the United States Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment.
There are several limitations of the study, and interpretation of the results is the subject of ongoing debate. Two key items to consider when interpreting the results are: 1) that the United States Air Force has pointed out that it did not fund the work[2]; and, 2) that the study analysis did not consider the short half-life of 1,1,1-TCA.
Regardless of uncertainties in interpreting the results, the journal article and underlying study were a significant topic of discussion as part of a monthly EPA groundwater forum teleconference lin November 2012. The summary notes for that teleconference[3] include the following statements, that:
“This may present a problem for previous site investigations as well as ongoing investigations”; and,
“The study raises the question of whether other solvent sites need to be retested to determine if they have 1,4-dioxane and, if they do, whether the remedy being used, such as pump and treat with GAC treatment, is appropriate for dioxane.”
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Other Useful Links:/Resources:
InsideEPA.com: EPA, Air Force Fear Expanding Scope Of 1,4-Dioxane Contamination
InsideEPA.com Air Force Fear Expanding Scope Of 14 Dioxane Contamination.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
References:
[1] Anderson, R. H., Anderson, J. K. and Bower, P. A. (2012), Co-occurrence of 1,4-dioxane with trichloroethylene in chlorinated solvent groundwater plumes at US Air Force installations: Fact or fiction. Integr Environ Assess Manag, 8: 731–737.
[2] Inside EPA (2013), EPA, Air Force Fear Expanding Scope Of 1,4-Dioxane Contamination, 23 January, 2013.
[3] United States Environmental Protection Agency (2012), Groundwater Forum Teleconference, 1 November, 2012.