"EPA has found that a dangerous chemical prevalent in drinking water poses more risks than previously determined, including outsize cancer threats.

The agency announced Friday that it has broadened its scope for 1,4-dioxane, a likely carcinogen that can crop up in shampoos and cleaning products, to include air and water exposures on the general population — an addition to the risk evaluation completed under the Trump administration that centered on work-related exposures.

According to a draft supplement, 1,4-dioxane is estimated to pose a cancer risk “higher than 1 in 1 million for a range of general population exposure scenarios, including to fenceline communities, associated with drinking water sourced downstream of release sites and for air within 1 km of releasing facilities.”"

E.A. Crunden and Ellie Borst report for E&E News July 7, 2023. [2]