Ethylbenzene

Nixa

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	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	N/A	0	0	N/A
2015	N/A	0	0	N/A
2016	0.0911 ppb	9	1	ND - 0.820 ppb
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	N/A	0	0	N/A
2019	ND	9	0	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
2016-03-14	AC68339	ND
2016-03-14	AC68340	ND
2016-03-14	AC68341	ND
2016-03-14	AC68335	ND
2016-03-14	AC68336	0.820 ppb
2016-03-14	AC68337	ND
2016-03-14	AC68338	ND
2016-03-14	AC68342	ND
2016-03-14	AC68334	ND
2019-03-18	AD41184	ND
2019-03-18	AD41183	ND
2019-03-18	AD41182	ND
2019-03-18	AD41181	ND
2019-03-18	AD41180	ND
2019-03-18	AD41179	ND
2019-03-18	AD41178	ND
2019-03-18	AD41177	ND
2019-03-18	AD41176	ND