Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Ainsworth Water Works

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.”

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.27 ppb330.500 ppb - 2.60 ppb
20194.70 ppb114.70 ppb
2020N/A00N/A
20210.200 ppb31ND - 0.600 ppb
20220.120 ppb51ND - 0.600 ppb
2023ND30ND

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
2018-08-27OE7050250.700 ppb
2018-08-27OE7050380.500 ppb
2018-09-27OE7194902.60 ppb
2019-08-01OE8433324.70 ppb
2021-06-22OE17385280.600 ppb
2021-08-02OE1783049ND
2021-10-04OE1881447ND
2022-03-29OE2072700ND
2022-06-27OE2124384ND
2022-08-30OE2163966ND
2022-08-30OE21639670.600 ppb
2022-12-19OE2220651ND
2023-03-28OE2258853ND
2023-07-05OE2302008ND
2023-10-27OE2355977ND