Tap Water Omission in Coming Chemical Rule Could Spur Lawsuits

The EPA’s final conclusions about the health risks of a compound used to stabilize chemical reactions will spur the agency to restrict industrial uses of it—but a decision to omit ways that people can inhale, touch, or ingest the chemical could spur litigation.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s final conclusions about the health and environmental risks of 1,4-dioxane, released Dec. 31, found the chemical increases workers’ chance too much of getting cancer, liver, kidney, or other problems in 13 out of 24 commercial and industrial situations in which workers could handle it.

Consumers don’t face too much risk from the amount ...