Ethylbenzene

Waterworks District 7

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

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	ND	20	ND
2017	N/A	0	N/A
2018	N/A	0	N/A
2019	ND	20	ND

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
2016-12-05	35281860010	ND
2016-12-05	35281860001	ND
2016-12-05	35281860010	ND
2016-12-05	35281860009	ND
2016-12-05	35281860008	ND
2016-12-05	35281860007	ND
2016-12-05	35281860006	ND
2016-12-05	35281860005	ND
2016-12-05	35281860004	ND
2016-12-05	35281860003	ND
2016-12-05	35281860002	ND
2016-12-05	35281860001	ND
2016-12-05	35281860002	ND
2016-12-05	35281860003	ND
2016-12-05	35281860004	ND
2016-12-05	35281860005	ND
2016-12-05	35281860006	ND
2016-12-05	35281860007	ND
2016-12-05	35281860008	ND
2016-12-05	35281860009	ND
2019-11-19	35514133001	ND
2019-11-19	35514133010	ND
2019-11-19	35514133009	ND
2019-11-19	35514133008	ND
2019-11-19	35514133007	ND
2019-11-19	35514133006	ND
2019-11-19	35514133005	ND
2019-11-19	35514133004	ND
2019-11-19	35514133003	ND
2019-11-19	35514133002	ND
2019-11-19	35514133001	ND
2019-11-19	35514133010	ND
2019-11-19	35514133009	ND
2019-11-19	35514133008	ND
2019-11-19	35514133007	ND
2019-11-19	35514133006	ND
2019-11-19	35514133005	ND
2019-11-19	35514133004	ND
2019-11-19	35514133003	ND
2019-11-19	35514133002	ND