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U.S. EPA Contaminated Site Cleanup Information (CLU-IN)


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division

Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs)

Environmental Occurrence

Halogenated Monoaromatics

1,3-Dichlorobenzene

1,3-Dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB, also known as m-dichlorobenzene) is used in the production of various herbicides, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes (HSDB).

1,2-DCB had been reported at at least 281 NPL sites (ASTDR 2006).

As of 2005, 1,3-DCB had been found at 175 NPL sites (ASTDR 2006)

EPA's Toxics Release Inventory reports that 1,829 pounds of 1,3-DCB were released or disposed of in 2007. As some emissions do not fall under EPA's reporting requirements, this is a minimum estimate. The releases generally were by point source or fugitive emissions to the air (876 pounds) or injections in deep wells (500 pounds).

In a U.S. Geological Survey nationwide assessment of water quality in public and private water wells, 1,3-DCB was not detected in domestic or public supply wells, nor was it found in aquifer samples (Zogorski et al. 2006).

References

1,3-Dichlorobenzene, CASRN: 541-73-1
PubChem
PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information.

The Quality of Our Nation's Waters: Volatile Organic Compounds in the Nation's Ground Water and Drinking-Water Supply WellsAdobe PDF Logo
Zogorski, J., J.M. Carter, T. Ivahnenko, W.W. Lapham, M.J. Moran, B.L. Rowe, P.J. Squillace, and P.L. Toccalino.
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1292, 112 pp, 2006

Toxicological Profile for Dichlorobenzenes
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 493 pp, 2006

This profile provides information on human health effects, fate and transport, production, and uses of all three dichlorobenzenes: 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-DCB.