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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Ethylbenzene

Schofield Waterworks

Ethylbenzene, a component of petroleum, is a volatile cancer-causing chemical primarily used for production of plastics and rubber. Ethylbenzene is also released from gasoline fuel emissions. Read More.

In animal studies, exposure to ethylbenzene causes tumors. Ethylbenzene can also damage lungs, liver, kidneys and the nervous system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylbenzene as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

 

28

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.0567 ppb61ND - 0.340 ppb
2015ND60ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 300 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 300 ppb for ethylbenzene 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 internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 700 ppb

The legal limit for ethylbenzene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1950s.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-10769666ND
2014-02-107696700.340 ppb
2014-02-10769668ND
2014-04-24782514ND
2014-07-16803522ND
2014-11-13831497ND
2015-03-03846158ND
2015-03-03846154ND
2015-03-03846156ND
2015-04-20855168ND
2015-07-07869336ND
2015-12-07897130ND
2016-02-09904665ND
2016-02-09904667ND
2016-02-09904669ND
2016-04-05913780ND
2016-08-10938490ND
2016-10-12953076ND
2017-06-20999042ND
2017-08-161011908ND
2017-08-161011903ND
2017-11-071028389ND
2018-08-281076576ND
2018-08-281076575ND
2018-08-281076574ND
2019-09-161148084ND
2019-09-161148086ND
2019-09-161148082ND