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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Great Oaks Water Company Inc.

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

 

48

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND70ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND150ND

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
2014-03-279590-013-1030ND
2014-05-159590-013-1115ND
2014-08-259590-007-0855ND
2014-08-259590-022-1505ND
2014-08-259590-021-1545ND
2014-08-259590-010-1035ND
2014-08-279590-013-1230ND
2015-09-229590-007-0850ND
2015-09-229590-013-1000ND
2016-05-259590-025-1415ND
2016-08-229590-004-1230ND
2016-08-229590-011-1325ND
2016-08-229590-009-1410ND
2016-08-249590-018-1315ND
2016-08-249590-013-1230ND
2016-08-249590-015-1450ND
2016-08-249590-023-1405ND
2016-08-259590-001-1205ND
2016-08-259590-019-1350ND
2016-08-259590-008-1255ND
2016-08-259590-002-1435ND
2016-09-069590-007-1400ND
2016-09-289590-025-1400ND
2016-11-029590-025-1115ND
2017-03-089590-025-0930ND
2017-04-139590-006-1000ND
2017-06-019590-010-1030ND
2017-08-309590-007-1030ND
2017-08-309590-021-1510ND
2017-08-319590-025-1440ND
2017-08-319590-022-1515ND
2018-08-299590-010-0930ND
2018-08-309590-007-0930ND
2019-08-289590-001-1420ND
2019-08-289590-007-1120ND
2019-08-289590-006-0920ND
2019-08-289590-002-1030ND
2019-08-299590-018-1000ND
2019-08-299590-015-0850ND
2019-08-299590-009-0745ND
2019-08-299590-008-1410ND
2019-08-299590-004-1310ND
2019-09-059590-023-1400ND
2019-09-059590-019-1145ND
2019-09-059590-025-1250ND
2019-09-129590-013-1430ND
2019-09-129590-011-1300ND
2019-09-129590-010-1145ND