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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

South Gate 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

 

52

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
2014ND180ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND60ND

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
2014-01-169588-007-1110ND
2014-01-169588-008-1120ND
2014-01-169588-016-1040ND
2014-01-169588-014-1330ND
2014-01-169588-009-1215ND
2014-04-179588-008-1145ND
2014-04-179588-007-1133ND
2014-04-179588-014-1325ND
2014-04-179588-009-1120ND
2014-07-249588-007-1150ND
2014-07-249588-008-1212ND
2014-07-249588-009-1130ND
2014-07-249588-014-1008ND
2014-07-249588-024-1253ND
2014-10-099588-009-1136ND
2014-10-099588-008-1152ND
2014-10-099588-014-1317ND
2014-10-099588-007-1201ND
2015-01-089588-014-1206ND
2015-01-089588-016-0948ND
2015-01-089588-009-1030ND
2015-01-089588-008-1055ND
2015-01-089588-007-1048ND
2015-04-099588-007-1124ND
2015-04-099588-008-1143ND
2015-07-099588-024-1015ND
2016-01-149588-016-1008ND
2016-01-149588-014-1217ND
2016-01-149588-009-1100ND
2016-04-149588-007-1121ND
2016-06-099588-008-0945ND
2016-07-149588-024-1058ND
2017-01-129588-016-1020ND
2017-01-129588-014-1122ND
2017-01-129588-009-1050ND
2017-05-109588-007-1024ND
2017-05-109588-008-1029ND
2017-07-129588-024-0936ND
2017-07-129588-009-1040ND
2018-01-109588-014-1109ND
2018-01-109588-016-1039ND
2018-03-299588-009-0857ND
2018-04-259588-009-0940ND
2018-04-259588-008-1020ND
2018-04-259588-007-1004ND
2018-07-239588-024-0912ND
2019-01-169588-016-1024ND
2019-01-169588-014-0846ND
2019-04-109588-009-1145ND
2019-04-109588-007-1005ND
2019-08-149588-008-1110ND
2019-11-209588-008-1045ND