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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

CTWC - Unionville System

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

 

58

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
2014ND160ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-01-21BG01724VOC1ND
2014-01-22BG01725VOC1ND
2014-01-22BG01728VOC1ND
2014-01-22BG01727VOC1ND
2014-01-22BG01726VOC1ND
2014-01-22BG017276VOC1ND
2014-02-12BG09383VOC1ND
2014-04-02BG26931VOC1ND
2014-04-03BG26932VOC1ND
2014-04-03BG26933VOC1ND
2014-07-09BG72399VOC1ND
2014-07-09BG72400VOC1ND
2014-07-09BG72401VOC1ND
2014-10-01BH22261VOC1ND
2014-10-16BH28261VOC1ND
2014-10-16BH28262VOC1ND
2015-01-07BH61113VOC1ND
2015-01-07BH61116VOC1ND
2015-01-07BH61115VOC1ND
2015-01-07BH61114VOC1ND
2015-01-07BH61112VOC1ND
2015-01-22BH66100VOC1ND
2015-04-28BJ08475VOC1ND
2015-04-28BJ08476VOC1ND
2015-05-05BJ12368VOC1ND
2015-07-15BJ47000VOC1ND
2015-07-15BJ47001VOC1ND
2015-08-05BJ69611VOC1ND
2015-10-06BK02878VOC1ND
2015-10-06BK02877VOC1ND
2015-10-06BK02876VOC1ND
2016-01-11BK51257VOC1ND
2016-01-11BK51258VOC1ND
2016-01-11BK51260VOC1ND
2016-01-11BK51261VOC1ND
2016-01-11BK51259VOC1ND
2016-04-11BN12525VOC1ND
2016-04-11BN12526VOC1ND
2016-04-11BN12527VOC1ND
2016-08-16BN92944VOC1ND
2016-08-16BN92945VOC1ND
2016-08-16BN92946VOC1ND
2016-10-24BV62669VOC1ND
2016-10-24BV62670VOC1ND
2016-11-01BV72457VOC1ND
2017-05-23BY28459VOC1ND
2017-07-25BY71391VOC1ND
2017-07-25BY71392VOC1ND
2017-07-25BY71394VOC1ND
2017-07-25BY71393VOC1ND
2017-08-15BY84216VOC1ND
2017-10-27BZ28354VOC1ND
2017-11-28BZ47211VOC1ND
2018-07-23CA96742ND
2018-07-23CA96743ND
2018-07-31CB01360ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200520002ND
2019-01-29VOC1 200519997ND