Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Atlantic Municipal Utilities

Ethylbenzene, a component of petroleum, is a volatile cancer-causing chemical primarily used for production of plastics and rubber. Ethylbenzene is also released from gasoline fuel emissions. Read More.

In animal studies, exposure to ethylbenzene causes tumors. Ethylbenzene can also damage lungs, liver, kidneys and the nervous system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylbenzene as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
20191.47 ppb31ND - 4.40 ppb
20200.200 ppb61ND - 1.20 ppb
20210.300 ppb31ND - 0.900 ppb
20221.70 ppb111.70 ppb
20230.600 ppb110.600 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 300 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 300 ppb for ethylbenzene 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 internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 700 ppb

The legal limit for ethylbenzene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1950s.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2019-07-10OE8330524.40 ppb
2019-08-26OE856494ND
2019-10-02OE874319ND
2020-01-07OE913790ND
2020-04-01OE951113ND
2020-07-06OE1095047ND
2020-07-14OE11163491.20 ppb
2020-07-20OE1129773ND
2020-10-06OE1320157ND
2021-01-18OE1550882ND
2021-07-20OE17645680.900 ppb
2021-08-02OE1779002ND
2022-07-12OE21334861.70 ppb
2023-07-18OE23092700.600 ppb