Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Toluene

North Slope Borough - Point Lay

Toluene is a volatile solvent that harms the nervous and immune systems, damages the liver and may increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Read More.

Toluene is a petroleum-derived chemical found in gasoline and used as a solvent in paints, adhesives and cleaning supplies. Toluene is highly neurotoxic. Exposure can cause fatigue and nausea, and may lead to nervous system disorders.

 

9

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.40 ppb111.40 ppb
20190.800 ppb42ND - 1.70 ppb
20201.20 ppb111.20 ppb
2021ND10ND
2022ND10ND
20231.10 ppb111.10 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 150 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 150 ppb for toluene 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): 1,000 ppb

The legal limit for toluene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-06-27VO*39788101.40 ppb
2019-03-274241731ND
2019-06-1343301351.70 ppb
2019-08-134389474ND
2019-11-0544798381.50 ppb
2020-01-2145462221.20 ppb
2021-12-07810-9815-1ND
2022-07-06810-30146-1VND
2023-08-09810-74539-A-11.10 ppb