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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

S S WSC

Hexachlorobenzene is a cancer-causing, neurotoxic and hormone-disrupting chemical used as a pesticide until 1984. It is still found in landfills and hazardous waste sites, and can be detected in people.

 

11

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014N/A00N/A
2015ND20ND
2016ND40ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND10ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.03 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.03 ppb for hexachlorobenzene 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) 1 ppb

The legal limit for hexachlorobenzene, established in 1992, 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 hexachlorobenzene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2015-01-15AC76587ND
2015-07-31AD02190ND
2016-01-21AD19423ND
2016-01-21AD19422ND
2016-01-21AD19424ND
2016-01-21AD19417ND
2018-07-02AE32331ND
2019-03-28AE60557ND
2019-03-28AE60559ND
2019-03-28AE60558ND
2019-03-28AE60560ND