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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Golden State Water Company (GSWC) - Bell, Bell Gardens

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

69

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
2014ND110ND
2015ND110ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND130ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-02-052706-036-1250ND
2014-02-052706-032-0820ND
2014-02-052706-031-0935ND
2014-02-052706-012-0845ND
2014-02-052706-007-1330ND
2014-05-062706-012-1026ND
2014-05-062706-007-0922ND
2014-08-062706-012-0957ND
2014-08-062706-007-0915ND
2014-11-062706-012-1008ND
2014-11-062706-007-0930ND
2015-02-032706-012-1015ND
2015-02-032706-031-1157ND
2015-02-032706-032-0847ND
2015-02-032706-036-1306ND
2015-02-042706-007-1003ND
2015-05-072706-012-1218ND
2015-05-072706-007-1305ND
2015-08-062706-007-1345ND
2015-08-062706-012-0900ND
2015-11-032706-007-1245ND
2015-11-032706-012-0910ND
2016-02-032706-007-1140ND
2016-02-034790-012-0845ND
2016-02-034790-032-0820ND
2016-03-012706-036-1200ND
2016-05-042706-012-1240ND
2016-05-042706-034-1250ND
2016-05-052706-007-1315ND
2016-08-022706-007-1350ND
2016-08-022706-012-0816ND
2016-11-082706-012-1018ND
2016-11-092706-007-1123ND
2017-02-089590-007-1021ND
2017-02-089590-032-0958ND
2017-02-089590-012-1300ND
2017-02-099590-036-0935ND
2017-02-289590-034-1154ND
2017-05-039590-012-1006ND
2017-05-039590-007-1152ND
2017-08-029590-012-1001ND
2017-08-029590-007-0906ND
2017-11-089590-012-1238ND
2017-11-089590-007-1025ND
2018-02-069590-032-1239ND
2018-02-069590-007-1245ND
2018-02-069590-012-1126ND
2018-02-069590-036-1035ND
2018-03-079590-034-1345ND
2018-04-189590-031-1130ND
2018-05-039590-007-1400ND
2018-05-039590-012-1312ND
2018-08-079590-012-1032ND
2018-09-129590-007-0900ND
2018-11-069590-007-1129ND
2018-11-069590-012-1035ND
2019-02-129590-031-1130ND
2019-02-129590-032-1045ND
2019-02-129590-026-0810ND
2019-02-129590-007-0809ND
2019-02-149590-034-1317ND
2019-02-149590-012-1315ND
2019-02-209590-036-1105ND
2019-05-149590-007-1049ND
2019-05-299590-012-1205ND
2019-08-069590-012-1305ND
2019-08-079590-007-1220ND
2019-11-059590-012-1115ND
2019-11-069590-007-1234ND