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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Sonoma County Water Agency

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

 

73

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND130ND
2015ND130ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND110ND

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
2014-08-191610-001-0740ND
2014-08-191610-018-0430ND
2014-08-191610-015-1000ND
2014-08-191610-012-0825ND
2014-08-191610-008-0630ND
2014-08-191610-003-0915ND
2014-08-201610-050-0825ND
2014-08-201610-020-0950ND
2014-08-201610-019-0440ND
2014-08-201610-017-1045ND
2014-08-201610-002-0720ND
2014-08-201610-007-0640ND
2014-08-271610-006-0750ND
2015-08-111610-018-0500ND
2015-08-111610-001-0745ND
2015-08-111610-008-0700ND
2015-08-111610-017-0415ND
2015-08-111610-015-0945ND
2015-08-111610-012-0900ND
2015-08-111610-003-1130ND
2015-08-121610-020-1100ND
2015-08-121610-007-0640ND
2015-08-121610-019-1005ND
2015-08-121610-050-0830ND
2015-08-121610-006-1145ND
2015-08-121610-002-0730ND
2016-08-301610-018-0850ND
2016-08-301610-017-1030ND
2016-08-301610-015-0950ND
2016-08-301610-012-0838ND
2016-08-301610-001-1340ND
2016-08-301610-002-0800ND
2016-08-301610-003-0920ND
2016-08-311610-020-0515ND
2016-08-311610-007-0930ND
2016-08-311610-008-1045ND
2016-08-311610-050-0800ND
2016-08-311610-006-0600ND
2016-10-121610-019-0900ND
2016-11-091610-015-0810ND
2017-08-281610-003-0730ND
2017-08-281610-017-0920ND
2017-08-281610-002-0950ND
2017-08-281610-015-0845ND
2017-08-281610-001-0815ND
2017-08-291610-006-0610ND
2017-08-291610-050-0745ND
2017-08-291610-020-0515ND
2017-08-291610-008-0930ND
2017-08-291610-019-1145ND
2017-08-291610-007-1030ND
2018-08-271610-008-1130ND
2018-08-271610-050-0930ND
2018-08-271610-007-1110ND
2018-09-041610-006-0830ND
2018-09-041610-020-0915ND
2018-09-041610-017-0935ND
2018-09-041610-003-0950ND
2018-09-041610-002-1230ND
2018-09-041610-015-0900ND
2018-09-101610-019-0910ND
2018-09-111610-001-1115ND
2019-09-091610-020-0850ND
2019-09-091610-008-0930ND
2019-09-091610-006-0810ND
2019-09-091610-050-0730ND
2019-09-091610-007-1100ND
2019-09-101610-001-1040ND
2019-09-101610-017-0740ND
2019-09-101610-002-0810ND
2019-09-101610-015-0720ND
2019-09-101610-003-0700ND
2019-12-111610-019-0945ND