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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Whittier 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

 

85

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
2015ND170ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND170ND
2018ND150ND
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
2014-01-079588-022-1000ND
2014-02-119588-022-0830ND
2014-03-119588-022-1100ND
2014-04-099588-022-1000ND
2014-05-209588-022-0830ND
2014-05-289588-003-0900ND
2014-05-289588-009-1000ND
2014-06-109588-022-1000ND
2014-06-119588-008-0910ND
2014-06-119588-010-0920ND
2014-06-119588-011-0950ND
2014-07-089588-022-0900ND
2014-08-079588-022-1000ND
2014-09-049588-013-1000ND
2014-09-179588-022-0900ND
2014-10-169588-022-0930ND
2014-11-109588-022-0830ND
2014-12-179588-022-0900ND
2015-01-149588-022-0830ND
2015-02-099588-022-1000ND
2015-03-109588-022-0800ND
2015-04-159588-022-0820ND
2015-05-069588-022-0830ND
2015-05-199588-009-0800ND
2015-06-109588-008-0950ND
2015-06-109588-011-1000ND
2015-06-109588-010-1010ND
2015-06-249588-022-0930ND
2015-07-149588-022-0800ND
2015-08-119588-022-0850ND
2015-09-109588-013-0930ND
2015-09-169588-022-1000ND
2015-10-199588-022-0800ND
2015-11-109588-022-0830ND
2015-12-029588-022-0900ND
2016-01-139588-022-0930ND
2016-02-099588-022-0800ND
2016-03-089588-022-1117ND
2016-05-119588-009-0845ND
2016-06-149588-008-0920ND
2016-06-149588-011-0930ND
2016-06-149588-010-0925ND
2016-09-139588-013-0935ND
2016-09-209588-022-1000ND
2016-10-109588-022-0905ND
2016-11-219588-022-0942ND
2016-12-069588-022-0830ND
2017-01-249588-022-1236ND
2017-02-149588-022-1040ND
2017-03-139588-022-0945ND
2017-04-119588-022-1038ND
2017-05-019588-022-0845ND
2017-05-099588-009-0842ND
2017-06-069588-022-0730ND
2017-06-149588-010-0905ND
2017-06-149588-011-0955ND
2017-06-149588-008-0910ND
2017-07-179588-022-0820ND
2017-08-159588-022-0740ND
2017-09-129588-013-0925ND
2017-09-189588-022-0822ND
2017-10-169588-022-0811ND
2017-11-069588-022-0750ND
2017-12-059588-022-0807ND
2018-01-229588-022-0752ND
2018-02-209588-022-0953ND
2018-03-199588-022-0815ND
2018-04-099588-022-0928ND
2018-06-139588-011-0855ND
2018-06-139588-008-0905ND
2018-06-139588-009-0955ND
2018-06-139588-010-0915ND
2018-07-109588-022-0900ND
2018-07-239588-022-1130ND
2018-08-079588-022-1000ND
2018-09-189588-013-1115ND
2018-09-249588-022-0838ND
2018-10-159588-022-0924ND
2018-11-059588-022-0836ND
2019-05-089588-009-0810ND
2019-06-119588-011-0905ND
2019-06-119588-010-0845ND
2019-06-119588-009-0950ND
2019-06-119588-008-0900ND
2019-09-249588-013-1055ND