Ethylbenzene

Callaway 2 Water District

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
2013	N/A	0	N/A
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	ND	8	ND
2016	N/A	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	N/A
2018	ND	8	ND
2019	N/A	0	N/A

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
2015-03-09	AC42765	ND
2015-03-09	AC42766	ND
2015-03-09	AC42767	ND
2015-03-09	AC42762	ND
2015-03-09	AC42763	ND
2015-03-09	AC42764	ND
2015-03-09	AC42761	ND
2015-03-09	AC42760	ND
2018-06-04	AD19152	ND
2018-06-04	AD19151	ND
2018-06-04	AD19155	ND
2018-06-04	AD19153	ND
2018-06-04	AD19154	ND
2018-06-04	AD19156	ND
2018-06-04	AD19157	ND
2018-06-04	AD19158	ND