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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Pomona Water Department

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

 

128

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
2014ND250ND
2015ND240ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND220ND
2018ND210ND
2019ND200ND

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
2014-01-029590-031-1129ND
2014-01-029590-042-1105ND
2014-01-069590-033-1012ND
2014-01-069590-038-1046ND
2014-01-069590-069-1037ND
2014-01-089590-010-0912ND
2014-01-169590-025-0838ND
2014-01-169590-040-0902ND
2014-02-199590-051-1311ND
2014-03-189590-013-0955ND
2014-03-269590-036-0957ND
2014-04-099590-071-0935ND
2014-06-109590-028-0740ND
2014-07-029590-032-0813ND
2014-07-079590-033-0847ND
2014-07-079590-038-0945ND
2014-07-079590-042-1135ND
2014-07-159590-028-0812ND
2014-07-169590-052-0856ND
2014-08-069590-028-0945ND
2014-08-289590-027-0930ND
2014-09-109590-028-0920ND
2014-10-069590-071-0918ND
2014-11-129590-051-1005ND
2014-12-099590-035-0943ND
2015-01-059590-033-1052ND
2015-01-059590-038-0946ND
2015-01-059590-042-1030ND
2015-01-059590-069-0943ND
2015-01-139590-010-0834ND
2015-01-139590-025-0930ND
2015-01-139590-040-0930ND
2015-02-269590-036-0922ND
2015-03-239590-031-1000ND
2015-04-069590-071-1131ND
2015-04-149590-013-0935ND
2015-06-109590-028-0844ND
2015-07-019590-052-1029ND
2015-07-069590-033-0910ND
2015-07-069590-038-0857ND
2015-07-069590-042-0959ND
2015-07-089590-028-0945ND
2015-07-089590-032-0815ND
2015-08-189590-028-0844ND
2015-09-109590-028-0832ND
2015-09-299590-027-1145ND
2015-10-059590-071-1040ND
2015-10-089590-028-1215ND
2015-10-209590-035-1021ND
2016-01-049590-042-1250ND
2016-01-069590-025-0920ND
2016-01-069590-040-0830ND
2016-01-129590-031-0824ND
2016-01-129590-036-0850ND
2016-01-139590-010-1000ND
2016-04-049590-071-1009ND
2016-06-029590-028-1115ND
2016-07-059590-038-0954ND
2016-07-059590-052-1111ND
2016-07-149590-033-1000ND
2016-07-149590-042-0845ND
2016-07-199590-028-0755ND
2016-07-209590-027-0945ND
2016-08-039590-028-0915ND
2016-10-129590-071-0942ND
2017-01-039590-031-1213ND
2017-01-039590-033-0933ND
2017-01-039590-038-0835ND
2017-01-109590-069-1103ND
2017-01-179590-010-1205ND
2017-01-189590-025-1218ND
2017-01-189590-040-1133ND
2017-01-259590-051-0910ND
2017-03-099590-042-1005ND
2017-04-069590-071-1145ND
2017-05-179590-036-1045ND
2017-07-119590-028-0910ND
2017-07-119590-038-1040ND
2017-07-139590-033-0930ND
2017-07-139590-042-1150ND
2017-07-249590-027-1415ND
2017-07-259590-052-1445ND
2017-08-099590-028-0910ND
2017-09-139590-028-0937ND
2017-10-249590-028-0820ND
2017-10-259590-032-1115ND
2017-11-149590-028-1315ND
2018-01-039590-033-1405ND
2018-01-039590-038-1006ND
2018-01-189590-042-1313ND
2018-01-229590-010-1207ND
2018-01-229590-025-1257ND
2018-01-229590-040-1325ND
2018-01-239590-069-1404ND
2018-04-169590-071-0956ND
2018-05-239590-028-1006ND
2018-06-139590-063-0955ND
2018-06-149590-028-1317ND
2018-07-119590-033-1309ND
2018-07-169590-038-1333ND
2018-07-179590-042-1055ND
2018-07-189590-027-1408ND
2018-07-199590-031-0951ND
2018-07-239590-028-1123ND
2018-08-149590-028-1043ND
2018-10-239590-071-0935ND
2018-12-069590-063-0820ND
2018-12-139590-028-1057ND
2019-01-039590-010-0939ND
2019-01-099590-033-1045ND
2019-01-099590-069-1121ND
2019-01-239590-010-1045ND
2019-01-239590-038-0843ND
2019-01-249590-025-1116ND
2019-01-249590-040-1155ND
2019-01-299590-042-1256ND
2019-01-309590-032-0915ND
2019-04-049590-071-0901ND
2019-04-179590-035-1010ND
2019-04-179590-036-1005ND
2019-04-179590-051-1110ND
2019-04-179590-063-1354ND
2019-07-029590-042-1220ND
2019-07-189590-027-1156ND
2019-07-189590-031-1035ND
2019-07-189590-052-1330ND
2019-10-039590-063-1340ND
2019-10-109590-071-1316ND