Toluene

City of Tempe

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.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	N/A
2014	ND	17	ND
2015	ND	2	ND
2016	ND	3	ND
2017	ND	24	ND
2018	ND	21	ND
2019	ND	17	ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-01-02	1401002-01V	ND
2014-01-28	1401146-01V	ND
2014-01-28	1401144-01V	ND
2014-01-28	1401143-01V	ND
2014-01-28	1401142-01V	ND
2014-01-29	1401148-01V	ND
2014-01-29	1401147-01V	ND
2014-01-29	1401145-01V	ND
2014-01-29	1401141-01V	ND
2014-03-24	1403189-01V	ND
2014-04-28	1404215-01V	ND
2014-04-30	1404216-01V	ND
2014-07-29	1407258-01V	ND
2014-07-30	1407280-01V	ND
2014-07-30	1407276-01V	ND
2014-11-12	1411119-01V	ND
2014-11-12	1411118-01V	ND
2015-02-25	150222701V	ND
2015-03-04	1503035-01V	ND
2016-01-13	1601108-01V	ND
2016-01-26	1601221-01V	ND
2016-04-08	1604073-01V	ND
2017-01-03	1701015-01V	ND
2017-01-03	1701007-01V	ND
2017-01-17	1701113-01V	ND
2017-01-17	1701112-01V	ND
2017-01-18	1701116-01V	ND
2017-01-18	1701115-01V	ND
2017-01-18	1701114-01V	ND
2017-01-19	1701117-01V	ND
2017-01-26	1701120-01V	ND
2017-01-26	1701119-01V	ND
2017-01-31	1701253-01V	ND
2017-01-31	1701252-01V	ND
2017-03-23	201703230333V	ND
2017-04-03	7040337-01VOC	ND
2017-05-04	7050712-01	ND
2017-05-04	7050711-01	ND
2017-08-28	1708300-01V	ND
2017-08-29	1708311-01V	ND
2017-08-30	1708317-01V	ND
2017-09-07	1709042-01V	ND
2017-10-02	1710019-01V	ND
2017-10-03	1710038-01V	ND
2017-10-11	1710157-01V	ND
2017-10-11	1710156-01V	ND
2018-01-02	1801001-001B	ND
2018-01-03	1801015-001B	ND
2018-01-03	1801014-001B	ND
2018-01-17	1801103-01B	ND
2018-01-17	1801102-001B	ND
2018-01-17	1801101-001B	ND
2018-01-18	1801115-001B	ND
2018-01-18	1801114-001B	ND
2018-01-23	1801143-001B	ND
2018-01-24	1801151-001B	ND
2018-02-05	1802024-001B	ND
2018-02-05	1802023-001B	ND
2018-02-06	1802032-001B	ND
2018-02-13	1802083-001B	ND
2018-03-06	1803023-001B	ND
2018-04-10	1804109-001B	ND
2018-04-11	1804131-001B	ND
2018-04-11	1804123-001B	ND
2018-07-09	1807047-001B	ND
2018-07-31	1807285-001B	ND
2018-10-01	1810011-001B	ND
2019-01-02	1901015-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-02	1901007-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-02	1901005-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-02	1901004-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-03	1901024-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-03	1901021-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-03	1901025-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-03	1901026-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-07	1901045-001 VOC	ND
2019-01-08	1901054-001 VOC	ND
2019-03-13	1903102-001 VOC	ND
2019-03-29	1903192-001 VOC	ND
2019-03-30	1903194-001 VOC	ND
2019-04-02	1904016-001	ND
2019-04-11	1904119-001	ND
2019-07-01	1907004-001	ND
2019-10-01	1910010-001	ND