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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Portageville PWS

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

71

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND160ND
2015ND160ND
2016ND150ND
2017ND160ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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 cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-29AC17628ND
2014-01-29AC17629ND
2014-01-29AC17630ND
2014-01-29AC17627ND
2014-04-23AC22472ND
2014-04-23AC22473ND
2014-04-23AC22474ND
2014-04-23AC22475ND
2014-07-23AC30035ND
2014-07-23AC30037ND
2014-07-23AC30036ND
2014-07-23AC30034ND
2014-10-27AC37288ND
2014-10-27AC37289ND
2014-10-27AC37290ND
2014-10-27AC37291ND
2015-01-28AC41341ND
2015-01-28AC41343ND
2015-01-28AC41344ND
2015-01-28AC41342ND
2015-04-28AC45757ND
2015-04-28AC45759ND
2015-04-28AC45760ND
2015-04-28AC45758ND
2015-07-29AC55429ND
2015-07-29AC55428ND
2015-07-29AC55431ND
2015-07-29AC55430ND
2015-10-28AC61956ND
2015-10-28AC61957ND
2015-10-28AC61958ND
2015-10-28AC61955ND
2016-01-28AC65728ND
2016-01-28AC65729ND
2016-01-28AC65726ND
2016-01-28AC65727ND
2016-04-26AC70020ND
2016-04-26AC70021ND
2016-04-26AC70023ND
2016-08-01AC80719ND
2016-08-01AC80721ND
2016-08-01AC80720ND
2016-08-01AC80718ND
2016-10-20AC85966ND
2016-10-20AC85968ND
2016-10-20AC85967ND
2016-10-20AC85965ND
2017-01-20AC89844ND
2017-01-20AC89842ND
2017-01-20AC89845ND
2017-01-20AC89843ND
2017-04-21AC95091ND
2017-04-21AC95092ND
2017-04-21AC95090ND
2017-04-21AC95093ND
2017-07-17AD02396ND
2017-07-17AD02395ND
2017-07-17AD02394ND
2017-07-17AD02393ND
2017-10-20AD08596ND
2017-10-20AD08595ND
2017-10-20AD08594ND
2017-10-20AD08597ND
2018-01-19AD12065ND
2018-05-02AD18681ND
2018-07-11AD29599ND
2018-10-11AD35076ND
2019-01-08AD38388ND
2019-04-08AD46682ND
2019-07-10AD52724ND
2019-10-20AD57391ND