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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

City of Turlock

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND110ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND70ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-221120-004-0940ND
2014-01-281120-030-0720ND
2014-04-021120-040-1015ND
2014-04-071120-030-0800ND
2014-07-091120-030-0755ND
2014-10-131120-030-0830ND
2015-01-071120-004-1036ND
2015-01-141120-030-0758ND
2015-04-061120-008-1048ND
2015-04-061120-014-1120ND
2015-04-141120-020-0958ND
2015-04-211120-034-1110ND
2015-04-231120-030-1300ND
2015-04-291120-035-1100ND
2015-06-151120-022-0807ND
2015-07-141120-030-0854ND
2015-08-191120-036-0750ND
2016-01-041120-004-0940ND
2016-01-041120-030-1021ND
2016-02-221120-003-0810ND
2016-04-041120-030-1120ND
2016-05-111120-019-0933ND
2016-05-111120-029-0843ND
2016-05-111120-008-0902ND
2016-05-161120-037-1415ND
2016-05-191120-013-0906ND
2016-06-081120-015-0840ND
2016-06-211120-027-0810ND
2016-07-111120-030-1004ND
2016-07-201120-033-0814ND
2016-07-211120-039-1302ND
2016-10-051120-030-0858ND
2017-01-051120-004-0900ND
2017-01-051120-030-0914ND
2017-04-051120-030-0951ND
2017-04-171120-040-1140ND
2017-07-111120-032-1000ND
2017-07-111120-030-1038ND
2017-07-111120-029-0915ND
2017-10-031120-030-1040ND
2018-01-111120-030-0957ND
2018-01-111120-004-0930ND
2018-04-031120-030-0850ND
2018-04-031120-020-0942ND
2018-04-101120-034-0832ND
2018-04-231120-035-0800ND
2018-06-271120-022-0906ND
2018-07-121120-036-1040ND
2018-07-121120-030-1007ND
2019-05-061120-037-0800ND
2019-05-061120-013-0850ND
2019-06-111120-027-0930ND
2019-06-111120-015-0750ND
2019-07-091120-039-1127ND
2019-07-091120-033-0901ND
2019-09-101120-003-0939ND