Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Vinyl chloride

Lakewood 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

 

59

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND100ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND100ND
2019ND100ND

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
2014-01-092706-001-1006ND
2014-05-232706-052-0730ND
2014-08-142706-044-1046ND
2014-08-142706-004-1034ND
2014-11-242706-045-0920ND
2014-11-242706-022-1015ND
2014-11-242706-016-1005ND
2014-11-242706-015-0950ND
2014-11-242706-007-0930ND
2014-11-242706-006-0936ND
2015-02-172706-001-1220ND
2015-05-282706-052-1135ND
2015-09-172706-004-0840ND
2015-09-172706-044-0906ND
2015-11-192706-006-0922ND
2015-11-192706-007-0915ND
2015-11-192706-016-0945ND
2015-11-192706-015-0932ND
2016-02-249588-001-1400ND
2016-06-159588-052-1010ND
2016-06-159588-045-1035ND
2016-08-259588-044-1430ND
2016-08-259588-004-1245ND
2016-08-259588-022-1300ND
2016-11-229588-006-1210ND
2016-11-229588-016-1145ND
2016-11-229588-007-1220ND
2016-11-229588-015-1200ND
2017-02-209588-001-0750ND
2017-08-229588-004-0841ND
2017-08-229588-045-1022ND
2017-08-229588-007-0900ND
2017-08-229588-044-0930ND
2017-08-229588-015-1049ND
2017-08-229588-052-0821ND
2017-08-229588-022-1155ND
2017-08-229588-006-0950ND
2017-08-229588-016-1112ND
2017-08-229588-001-1130ND
2018-08-069588-052-0800ND
2018-08-069588-004-0819ND
2018-08-069588-006-0841ND
2018-08-069588-044-0901ND
2018-08-069588-045-0938ND
2018-08-069588-007-0829ND
2018-08-069588-022-1110ND
2018-08-069588-015-1000ND
2018-08-069588-001-1050ND
2018-08-069588-016-1019ND
2019-08-059588-001-0836ND
2019-08-059588-044-1005ND
2019-08-059588-004-0854ND
2019-08-059588-052-0937ND
2019-08-059588-045-1017ND
2019-08-059588-006-0958ND
2019-08-059588-022-0820ND
2019-08-059588-016-1046ND
2019-08-059588-015-1027ND
2019-08-059588-007-0945ND