Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Xylenes (total)

Paw Homesite

Xylenes are solvents used in industrial and consumer products, such as cleaning agents and paint thinners. Xylenes cause nervous system damage and may harm developing fetuses.

 

40

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND80ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1,800 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1,800 ppb for xylenes 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 harm to the brain and nervous system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10,000 ppb

The legal limit for xylenes, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the brain and nervous system due to xylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-0824405801ND
2014-01-0824405701ND
2014-04-0225334601ND
2014-04-0225334501ND
2014-07-0926110301ND
2014-07-0926110201ND
2014-10-0127098701ND
2014-10-0127098801ND
2015-01-0712297067ND
2015-01-0712297046ND
2015-04-1512642916ND
2015-04-1512642895ND
2015-07-1513023154ND
2015-07-1513023133ND
2015-10-0613399412ND
2015-10-0613399433ND
2016-01-0513763231ND
2016-01-0513763252ND
2016-04-0514115624ND
2016-04-0514115645ND
2016-07-0114583658ND
2016-07-0114583679ND
2016-10-0515088556ND
2016-10-0515088535ND
2017-01-0515529621ND
2017-01-0515529642ND
2017-04-0515950742ND
2017-04-0515950763ND
2017-07-0716426345ND
2017-07-0716426366ND
2017-10-0516892546ND
2017-10-0516892567ND
2018-01-1038158601ND
2018-04-0439069901ND
2018-07-0340201501ND
2018-10-0441308901ND
2019-01-0942495701ND
2019-04-1043656201ND
2019-07-1645013801ND
2019-10-1046829601ND