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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Dover Water Department

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

 

91

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND180ND
2015ND170ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND320ND

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
2014-01-31S238393ND
2014-04-16S268406ND
2014-05-19S495007ND
2014-08-15S262097ND
2014-08-15S262096ND
2014-08-15S262095ND
2014-08-15S262094ND
2014-08-15S262093ND
2014-08-15S262092ND
2014-08-15S262091ND
2014-09-15S262102ND
2014-09-15S262090ND
2014-09-15S262098ND
2014-09-15S262099ND
2014-09-15S262100ND
2014-09-15S262103ND
2014-09-29L5279641-18ND
2014-11-17S251385ND
2015-01-15S262115ND
2015-05-22S574910ND
2015-12-07S238369ND
2015-12-07S238368ND
2015-12-11S497414ND
2015-12-11S497411ND
2015-12-11S497412ND
2015-12-11S497413ND
2015-12-14S497435ND
2015-12-14S497433ND
2015-12-14S497432ND
2015-12-14S497431ND
2015-12-14S497430ND
2015-12-14S497427ND
2015-12-17S497428ND
2015-12-20S268410ND
2015-12-27S251387ND
2016-02-18S497452ND
2016-06-14S677171ND
2016-10-04S637219ND
2016-12-21S637222ND
2017-12-12S637216ND
2017-12-20S771109ND
2017-12-20S771111ND
2017-12-20S771113ND
2017-12-20S771115ND
2017-12-20S771117ND
2017-12-20S771107ND
2017-12-20S771105ND
2017-12-20S771103ND
2017-12-20S771101ND
2017-12-20S771099ND
2017-12-20S771097ND
2017-12-20S771095ND
2017-12-20S771093ND
2017-12-20S771091ND
2018-09-27S782025ND
2018-09-27S782023ND
2018-09-27S782021ND
2018-09-27S782017ND
2018-12-13S504158ND
2019-04-12S872258ND
2019-04-16S504176ND
2019-06-05S889268ND
2019-06-05S889264ND
2019-06-05S889260ND
2019-06-05S771126ND
2019-06-05S771121ND
2019-08-20S848564ND
2019-08-20S848550ND
2019-08-20S848551ND
2019-08-20S848552ND
2019-08-20S848553ND
2019-08-20S848554ND
2019-08-20S848556ND
2019-08-20S848557ND
2019-08-20S848559ND
2019-08-20S848560ND
2019-08-20S848561ND
2019-08-20S848562ND
2019-08-20S848563ND
2019-08-20S848576ND
2019-08-20S848558ND
2019-09-03S848252ND
2019-09-03S848240ND
2019-09-03S848244ND
2019-09-03S848248ND
2019-11-20S925180ND
2019-11-20S848254ND
2019-11-21S848268ND
2019-11-21S848274ND
2019-11-21S848272ND
2019-11-21S848270ND