Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Halifax Water Department

NOTE: Halifax Water Department purchases water from Brockton Water Commission which is required to test for ethylbenzene. Sample information shown below was taken by Brockton Water Commission.

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.”

 

10

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND70ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND60ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND70ND
2023ND70ND

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

NOTE: Halifax Water Department purchases water from Brockton Water Commission which is required to test for ethylbenzene. Sample information shown below was taken by Brockton Water Commission.

Date Result
2018-03-06ND
2018-03-06ND
2019-03-11ND
2019-03-12ND
2020-03-10ND
2020-03-24ND
2021-03-03ND
2021-04-16ND
2022-03-02ND
2023-03-01ND