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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Smyrna 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

 

96

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND70ND
2015ND160ND
2016ND190ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND160ND
2019ND220ND

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
2014-08-27S575447ND
2014-08-27S575446ND
2014-08-27S575442ND
2014-12-04S590002ND
2014-12-04S590001ND
2014-12-04S590000ND
2014-12-04S589999ND
2015-03-31S614668ND
2015-03-31S614667ND
2015-03-31S614666ND
2015-03-31S614665ND
2015-06-30S637160ND
2015-06-30S637158ND
2015-06-30S637159ND
2015-06-30S637161ND
2015-09-30S637282ND
2015-09-30S637281ND
2015-09-30S637280ND
2015-09-30S637279ND
2015-12-21S628969ND
2015-12-21S628968ND
2015-12-21S628967ND
2015-12-21S628966ND
2016-03-31S677079ND
2016-03-31S677076ND
2016-03-31S677077ND
2016-03-31S677078ND
2016-06-29S679276ND
2016-06-29S679275ND
2016-06-29S679274ND
2016-06-29S679273ND
2016-09-29S694841ND
2016-09-29S694840ND
2016-09-29S694839ND
2016-09-29S694838ND
2016-10-11S719482ND
2016-10-11S719480ND
2016-10-11S719481ND
2016-12-14S719729ND
2016-12-14S719728ND
2016-12-14S719727ND
2016-12-14S719726ND
2017-03-30S720623ND
2017-03-30S720622ND
2017-03-30S720620ND
2017-03-30S6720621ND
2017-06-28S738586ND
2017-06-28S738585ND
2017-06-28S738584ND
2017-06-28S738583ND
2017-09-27S760215ND
2017-09-27S760213ND
2017-09-27S760211ND
2017-09-27S760209ND
2017-12-19S782078ND
2017-12-19S782076ND
2017-12-19S782074ND
2017-12-19S782072ND
2018-03-26S792125ND
2018-03-26S792121ND
2018-03-26S792123ND
2018-03-26S792127ND
2018-06-26S808446ND
2018-06-26S808444ND
2018-06-26S808442ND
2018-06-26S808440ND
2018-09-26S808644ND
2018-09-26S808642ND
2018-09-26S808640ND
2018-09-26S808638ND
2018-12-17S854825ND
2018-12-17S854821ND
2018-12-17S854823ND
2018-12-17S854827ND
2019-03-28S870601ND
2019-03-28S870599ND
2019-03-28S870597ND
2019-03-28S870595ND
2019-06-27S893155ND
2019-06-27S893153ND
2019-06-27S893151ND
2019-06-27S893149ND
2019-09-30S909293ND
2019-09-30S909289ND
2019-09-30S909291ND
2019-09-30S909295ND
2019-10-10S920196ND
2019-10-10S920194ND
2019-10-10S920192ND
2019-12-09S927532ND
2019-12-09S927657ND
2019-12-09S927656ND
2019-12-09S927655ND
2019-12-09S927654ND
2019-12-09S927537ND
2019-12-09S927536ND