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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Ethylbenzene

City of Blackfoot

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.”

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND90ND
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND70ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2016-09-19VI60917701ND
2016-10-03VI61000301ND
2016-10-03VI61000302ND
2016-10-03VI61000303ND
2016-10-03VI61000304ND
2016-10-03VI61000305ND
2016-10-03VI61000306ND
2016-10-03VI61000307ND
2016-10-03VI61000308ND
2019-10-14VI91012701ND
2019-10-14VI91012702ND
2019-10-14VI91012703ND
2019-10-14VI91012704ND
2019-10-14VI91012705ND
2019-10-14VI91012706ND
2019-10-14VI91012707ND