Ethylbenzene

Woodstock

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.”

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	N/A	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	N/A
2018	ND	15	ND
2019	ND	10	ND

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
2018-04-10	AJ87090	ND
2018-04-10	AJ87089	ND
2018-04-10	AJ87088	ND
2018-04-10	AJ87087	ND
2018-04-10	AJ87086	ND
2018-07-10	AJ93446	ND
2018-07-10	AJ93445	ND
2018-07-10	AJ93444	ND
2018-07-10	AJ93443	ND
2018-07-10	AJ93442	ND
2018-12-18	AK08331	ND
2018-12-18	AK08333	ND
2018-12-18	AK08332	ND
2018-12-18	AK08330	ND
2018-12-18	AK08329	ND
2019-01-08	AK09031	ND
2019-01-08	AK09030	ND
2019-01-08	AK09029	ND
2019-01-08	AK09028	ND
2019-01-08	AK09027	ND
2019-04-15	AK15169	ND
2019-04-15	AK15173	ND
2019-04-15	AK15172	ND
2019-04-15	AK15171	ND
2019-04-15	AK15170	ND