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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Benzene

City of Flagstaff

Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It also damages blood cells and the nervous system. Emissions from petroleum processing, hazardous waste landfills and underground storage tanks contaminate drinking water with benzene. Read More.

To protect against cancer risks, California set a public health goal for benzene in drinking water at 0.15 parts per billion, 30 times lower than the federal legal limit of 5 parts per billion.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

35

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND20ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND90ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.15 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.15 ppb for benzene 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for benzene, 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 benzene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-08-27201408300317VND
2014-10-06201410070846VND
2015-04-14201504150294VND
2015-07-22201507180334VND
2015-07-22201507160337VND
2015-07-30201507310184VND
2015-08-27201508280194VND
2015-09-10201509120269VND
2015-10-20201510210462VND
2015-10-20201510070069VND
2016-02-17201602180536VND
2016-02-17201602180535VND
2017-03-07201703080657VND
2017-03-07201703080656VND
2017-03-07201703080655VND
2017-03-07201703080654VND
2017-09-11201709121557VND
2018-05-15201805160793 VND
2018-05-15201805160792 VND
2018-05-15201805160791 VND
2018-06-11201806120451VND
2018-06-13201806140903VND
2018-06-13201806140902VND
2018-08-27201808281001VND
2018-08-27201808281002VND
2018-08-27201808281003VND
2019-04-29201904300311VND
2019-04-29201904300310VND
2019-06-18201906190260VND
2019-06-18201906190259VND
2019-07-22201907230337VND
2019-07-22201907230199VND
2019-09-25201909260285VND
2019-09-25201909260284VND
2019-10-23201910240268VND