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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Suburban Water Systems - Whittier

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

 

51

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
2014ND140ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND40ND
2018ND40ND
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
2014-01-099588-014-1520ND
2014-02-069588-014-1020ND
2014-03-109588-014-1501ND
2014-04-079588-014-1304ND
2014-05-129588-014-1106ND
2014-05-199588-035-0900ND
2014-05-199588-033-0925ND
2014-05-199588-031-0915ND
2014-05-199588-020-1010ND
2014-06-169588-014-1400ND
2014-07-079588-014-1118ND
2014-08-049588-014-1305ND
2014-09-109588-014-1315ND
2014-10-169588-014-1140ND
2015-03-139588-014-1105ND
2015-04-239588-014-0950ND
2015-05-229588-031-0930ND
2015-05-229588-020-1000ND
2015-05-229588-035-0920ND
2015-06-179588-033-0855ND
2015-07-309588-014-1031ND
2015-08-139588-014-1012ND
2015-09-029588-014-1108ND
2015-10-089588-014-1128ND
2015-11-099588-014-0850ND
2015-12-079588-014-1040ND
2016-04-299588-014-1001ND
2016-05-059588-014-1000ND
2016-05-249588-035-0910ND
2016-05-249588-020-1005ND
2016-05-249588-031-0945ND
2016-05-249588-033-0935ND
2016-06-169588-014-1128ND
2016-07-079588-014-1200ND
2016-09-089588-014-1415ND
2016-10-139588-014-1100ND
2016-11-179588-014-1130ND
2017-05-059588-020-0925ND
2017-05-059588-031-0905ND
2017-05-059588-035-0850ND
2017-05-059588-033-0915ND
2018-05-159588-035-0915ND
2018-05-159588-031-0925ND
2018-05-159588-033-0950ND
2018-05-159588-020-0935ND
2019-05-289588-035-0900ND
2019-05-289588-031-0915ND
2019-05-289588-020-0910ND
2019-05-289588-033-0925ND
2019-11-219588-033-0935ND
2019-11-219588-020-0945ND