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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Benzene

Golden State WC - Placentia

Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It also damages blood cells and the nervous system. Emissions from petroleum processing, hazardous waste landfills and underground storage tanks contaminate drinking water with benzene. Read More.

To protect against cancer risks, California set a public health goal for benzene in drinking water at 0.15 parts per billion, 30 times lower than the federal legal limit of 5 parts per billion.

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 0.15 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.15 ppb for benzene 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) 5 ppb

The legal limit for benzene, 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 benzene 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