Water Quality Standards

Summary information extracted from: - Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2nd ed. - Vol. 1. Recommendations.Geneva, World Health Organization, 1993. p. 59.

1,1-Dichloroethane is used as a chemical intermediate and solvent. There are limited data showing that it can be present in concentrations of up to 10 µg/litre in drinking-water. However, because of the widespread use and disposal of this chemical, its occurrence in ground water may increase.

1,1-Dichloroethane is rapidly metabolized by mammals to acetic acid and a variety of chlorinated compounds. It is of relatively low acute toxicity, and limited data are available on its toxicity from short- and long-term studies.

There is limited in vitro evidence of genotoxicity. One carcinogenicity study by gavage in mice and rats provided no conclusive evidence of carcinogenicity, although there was some evidence of an increased incidence of haemangiosarcomas in treated animals.

In view of the very limited database on toxicity and carcinogenicity, it was concluded that no guideline value should be proposed.