Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Elba Water Works

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
2018ND10ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
20220.534 ppb52ND - 2.10 ppb
2023ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-10-1918100572-001AND
2019-03-2719030659-001AND
2019-03-2719030659-002AND
2019-03-2719030659-003AND
2019-11-0520128986001_IVOCND
2020-11-1720180408001_IVOCND
2021-12-1035683528001_IVOCND
2022-03-2935706621002_IVOC2.10 ppb
2022-03-2935706621001_IVOCND
2022-09-2235748613002_IVOCND
2022-11-1735760586001_IVOCND
2022-12-1535766914001_IVOC0.570 ppb
2023-01-1935773664001_IVOCND
2023-04-0635790837001_IVOCND
2023-09-2135829187001_IVOCND
2023-10-1935835674001_IVOCND
2023-10-1935835674002_IVOCND