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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Golden State WC - Placentia

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

 

98

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
2014ND70ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND270ND
2017ND210ND
2018ND140ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-01-234417-005-1000ND
2014-01-234417-002-0935ND
2014-01-234417-001-0920ND
2014-03-104417-003-1140ND
2014-04-164417-005-1015ND
2014-04-164417-002-0950ND
2014-04-164417-001-0940ND
2015-01-204417-001-0940ND
2015-01-204417-005-1015ND
2015-03-094417-003-1010ND
2015-03-254417-002-1135ND
2015-04-204417-005-0935ND
2015-04-204417-003-0845ND
2015-04-204417-002-0905ND
2015-06-154417-001-1025ND
2015-07-064417-001-0935ND
2015-07-064417-005-1000ND
2015-07-064417-002-0920ND
2015-10-204417-001-0955ND
2015-10-204417-003-0905ND
2015-10-204417-005-1020ND
2015-10-204417-002-0940ND
2016-01-194417-003-1100ND
2016-01-194417-005-1130ND
2016-01-194417-002-1030ND
2016-01-194417-001-1040ND
2016-04-194417-003-0920ND
2016-04-194417-002-0950ND
2016-04-194417-001-0940ND
2016-04-194417-005-1030ND
2016-05-174417-003-0825ND
2016-05-174417-002-0805ND
2016-05-174417-001-0855ND
2016-06-084417-003-1050ND
2016-07-184417-001-0930ND
2016-07-184417-002-0910ND
2016-07-184417-005-1010ND
2016-07-184417-003-0850ND
2016-07-274417-003-1110ND
2016-08-154417-001-0840ND
2016-08-154417-001-0830ND
2016-08-154417-003-0815ND
2016-09-214417-003-0955ND
2016-10-174417-005-1050ND
2016-10-174417-003-1005ND
2016-10-174417-001-1025ND
2016-10-174417-002-1035ND
2016-11-144417-003-1000ND
2016-12-054417-003-1010ND
2017-01-104417-001-1030ND
2017-01-104417-002-1020ND
2017-01-104417-005-1040ND
2017-01-244417-003-1100ND
2017-02-024417-003-0905ND
2017-03-074417-003-0850ND
2017-04-274417-001-0915ND
2017-04-274417-002-0905ND
2017-04-274417-003-0845ND
2017-05-014417-005-1240ND
2017-05-154417-003-1030ND
2017-06-204417-003-1105ND
2017-07-274417-005-1045ND
2017-07-274417-001-1010ND
2017-07-274417-002-1025ND
2017-08-314417-003-0845ND
2017-09-054417-003-1120ND
2017-10-054417-003-0930ND
2017-10-054417-001-1020ND
2017-10-054417-005-1035ND
2017-10-054417-002-1010ND
2018-01-294417-001-0850ND
2018-01-294417-005-0920ND
2018-01-294417-002-0900ND
2018-02-054417-003-0930ND
2018-04-244417-001-1225ND
2018-04-244417-002-1235ND
2018-04-244417-003-1100ND
2018-04-244417-003-1120ND
2018-07-024417-001-1020ND
2018-07-024417-002-1045ND
2018-07-024417-003-0850ND
2018-10-084417-003-1010ND
2018-10-084417-002-1045ND
2018-10-084417-001-1035ND
2019-01-104417-003-1000ND
2019-01-104417-002-1050ND
2019-01-104417-005-1110ND
2019-01-104417-001-1040ND
2019-04-294417-003-0840ND
2019-04-294417-002-0940ND
2019-04-294417-001-0925ND
2019-05-064417-003-1235ND
2019-07-164417-002-1005ND
2019-07-164417-001-0940ND
2019-08-064417-003-1325ND
2019-10-244417-003-1015ND
2019-10-244417-002-1055ND
2019-11-254417-001-0900ND