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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Lynwood Park Mutual Water Company

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

 

70

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND120ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-01-209588-002-1350ND
2014-01-209588-001-1335ND
2014-04-219588-002-1415ND
2014-04-219588-001-1355ND
2014-07-219588-002-1435ND
2014-07-219588-001-1420ND
2014-10-209588-003-1530ND
2014-10-209588-002-1505ND
2014-10-209588-001-1440ND
2014-12-159588-002-1455ND
2015-01-199588-001-1520ND
2015-01-199588-002-1500ND
2015-01-199588-001-1435ND
2015-04-209588-003-1240ND
2015-04-209588-001-1218ND
2015-04-209588-002-1206ND
2015-07-209588-003-1158ND
2015-07-249588-001-1215ND
2015-07-249588-002-1230ND
2015-10-199588-002-1432ND
2015-10-199588-003-1500ND
2015-10-199588-001-1410ND
2016-01-259588-002-1315ND
2016-01-259588-003-1405ND
2016-01-259588-001-1335ND
2016-04-189588-001-1348ND
2016-04-189588-002-1415ND
2016-04-189588-003-1440ND
2016-07-189588-003-1415ND
2016-07-189588-001-1340ND
2016-07-189588-002-1315ND
2016-10-179588-003-1335ND
2016-10-179588-001-1255ND
2016-10-179588-002-1315ND
2017-01-169588-003-1440ND
2017-01-169588-002-1400ND
2017-01-309588-001-1336ND
2017-04-179588-001-1214ND
2017-04-179588-003-1255ND
2017-04-179588-002-1239ND
2017-07-179588-003-1240ND
2017-07-179588-002-1210ND
2017-07-179588-001-1155ND
2017-10-169588-002-1205ND
2017-10-169588-003-1235ND
2017-10-169588-001-1150ND
2018-01-159588-003-1157ND
2018-01-159588-001-1120ND
2018-01-159588-002-1055ND
2018-04-169588-003-1245ND
2018-04-169588-002-1230ND
2018-04-169588-001-1200ND
2018-07-179588-001-1238ND
2018-07-179588-003-1305ND
2018-07-179588-002-1225ND
2018-10-159588-003-1155ND
2018-10-229588-001-1450ND
2018-10-229588-002-1440ND
2019-01-219588-003-1240ND
2019-01-219588-001-1300ND
2019-01-219588-002-1325ND
2019-04-229588-003-1154ND
2019-04-229588-002-1124ND
2019-04-229588-001-1050ND
2019-07-159588-002-1105ND
2019-07-159588-001-1115ND
2019-07-159588-003-1210ND
2019-10-149588-001-1015ND
2019-10-149588-003-1040ND
2019-10-149588-002-1000ND