Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Monochlorobenzene is used as a solvent for pesticides, a degreasing agent and an intermediate for manufacturing other chemicals. It causes liver and kidney damage in studies of laboratory animals.
2015:
9
states detected
13
utilities detected
111,000
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for monochlorobenzene
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 70 ppb
The health guideline of 70 ppb for monochlorobenzene 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.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 100 ppb
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
ppb = parts per billion.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)100 ppb
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
ppb = parts per billion.
States reporting monochlorobenzene in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| New Jersey | 2 | 49,385 | |
| Florida | 4 | 32,975 | |
| Kentucky | 1 | 20,048 | |
| Georgia | 1 | 3,728 | |
| North Carolina | 1 | 2,881 | |
| Arizona | 1 | 805 | |
| Louisiana | 1 | 684 | |
| Maryland | 1 | 60 | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 47 | |
Utilities with the highest amounts of monochlorobenzene, 2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hogansville | Hogansville, GA | 1 of 1 | 39.0 ppb | 3,728 |
| Elfrida Water Improvement District | Elfrida, AZ | 1 of 2 | 1.20 ppb | 805 |
| Mayo Center and Apartments | Annapolis, MD | 1 of 1 | 0.800 ppb | 60 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 5 of 16 | 0.787 ppb | 31,500 |
| Fairmont, Town of | Fairmont, NC | 1 of 4 | 0.525 ppb | 2,881 |
| Venice Ranch Mobile Home Estates | Venice, FL | 1 of 1 | 0.360 ppb | 295 |
| Reflections Village | Richfield, WI | 1 of 4 | 0.300 ppb | 47 |
| Bullock Pen Water District | Crittenden, KY | 1 of 4 | 0.150 ppb | 20,048 |
| City of Broussard Highway 90 Water System | Broussard, LA | 2 of 4 | 0.140 ppb | 684 |
| Woodbine Municipal Utilities Authority | Woodbine, NJ | 1 of 1 | 0.0700 ppb | 2,800 |
| United Water Camden | Camden, NJ | 1 of 7 | 0.00857 ppb | 46,585 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 5 of 16 | 0.787 ppb | 31,500 |
| Bullock Pen Water District | Crittenden, KY | 1 of 4 | 0.150 ppb | 20,048 |
| United Water Camden | Camden, NJ | 1 of 7 | 0.00857 ppb | 46,585 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.