Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Ethylbenzene

Woodcrest Apartments

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.”

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND60ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

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
2014-03-2803281403ND
2014-08-04EHS1400023423POCND
2014-12-3012301404ND
2015-03-11WC15409ND
2015-06-2606261502-3ND
2015-08-31WC151647ND
2015-12-2212221503-1ND
2016-03-21WC16504ND
2016-06-2806281605ND
2016-07-2707271601BND
2016-10-28DW163957ND
2017-03-28WC170683ND
2017-07-27WC171647ND
2017-08-29TB172034-POCND
2017-10-27WC172763ND
2017-11-30WA173000ND
2017-12-04EHS1700059078-01ND