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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Ethylbenzene

West Gate Estates Mobile Hms

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.”

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND

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
2014-12-08834625ND
2015-03-31851185ND
2015-06-24867722ND
2015-07-22872508ND
2015-09-03880778ND
2015-11-02892142ND
2016-02-22906101ND
2016-05-26923023ND
2016-09-30950701ND
2016-12-07965062ND
2017-03-30980501ND
2017-06-281001005ND
2018-07-251069606ND
2018-07-251069609ND
2019-09-261151535ND