Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Vinyl chloride

Ardmore Water System

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND80ND
2023ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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 cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-23180123034-1ND
2018-04-12180412042-1ND
2018-08-1618080527-001ND
2018-10-1718100516-001ND
2019-01-2419010620-001AND
2019-01-2419010620-002AND
2019-03-1219030331-001ND
2019-05-2920105746001ND
2019-07-3020114807001ND
2019-10-2920128012001ND
2020-02-2820144376001-1ND
2020-06-1620158950001ND
2020-08-1320167221001ND
2020-10-2920177729001ND
2021-03-0435616404001ND
2021-06-1635640935001ND
2021-09-1735664186001ND
2021-11-2335679859001_IVOCND
2022-02-2835700052001_IVOCND
2022-02-2835700053001_IVOCND
2022-02-2835700053002_IVOCND
2022-05-2335719552001A_IVOCND
2022-05-2335719552001_IVOCND
2022-08-1235738848001A_IVOCND
2022-08-1235738848001_IVOCND
2022-11-2835762249001_IVOCND
2023-02-2735782140001_IVOCND
2023-05-0435797074001_IVOCND
2023-08-1835821732001_IVOCND
2023-10-2035836005001_IVOCND