Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Xylenes (total)

Gulf County Water Department (lighthouse)

NOTE: Gulf County Water Department (lighthouse) purchases water from City of Port St. Joe which is required to test for xylenes (total). Sample information shown below was taken by City of Port St. Joe.

Xylenes are solvents used in industrial and consumer products, such as cleaning agents and paint thinners. Xylenes cause nervous system damage and may harm developing fetuses.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.253 ppb31ND - 0.760 ppb
2019ND30ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 1,800 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1,800 ppb for xylenes 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 harm to the brain and nervous system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 10,000 ppb

The legal limit for xylenes, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the brain and nervous system due to xylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

NOTE: Gulf County Water Department (lighthouse) purchases water from City of Port St. Joe which is required to test for xylenes (total). Sample information shown below was taken by City of Port St. Joe.

Date Result
2018-04-230.760 ppb
2018-07-30ND
2018-11-20ND
2019-02-07ND
2019-04-16ND
2019-06-04ND
2020-05-26ND
2021-05-18ND
2021-12-10ND
2022-05-03ND
2022-10-12ND
2023-05-04ND