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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Charlotte Water

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.

 

90

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND200ND
2015ND200ND
2016ND200ND
2017ND200ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-02-19AE92466-VOCND
2014-02-19AE92469-VOCND
2014-02-19AE92467-VOCND
2014-02-19AE92468-VOCND
2014-02-19AE92465-VOCND
2014-05-13AF01538-VOCND
2014-05-13AF01539-VOCND
2014-05-13AF01535-VOCND
2014-05-13AF01536-VOCND
2014-05-13AF01537-VOCND
2014-08-07AF10197-VOCND
2014-08-07AF10199-VOCND
2014-08-07AF10198-VOCND
2014-08-07AF10200-VOCND
2014-08-07AF10196-VOCND
2014-12-03AF22252-VOCND
2014-12-03AF22253-VOCND
2014-12-03AF22256-VOCND
2014-12-03AF22254-VOCND
2014-12-03AF22255-VOCND
2015-03-04ND
2015-03-04ND
2015-03-04ND
2015-03-04ND
2015-03-04ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-11ND
2015-06-24ND
2015-06-24ND
2015-08-19ND
2015-08-19ND
2015-08-19ND
2015-08-19ND
2015-08-19ND
2015-11-04ND
2015-11-04ND
2015-11-04ND
2015-11-04ND
2015-11-04ND
2016-02-03AF65961_VOCND
2016-02-03AF65963_VOCND
2016-02-03AF65965_VOCND
2016-02-03AF65962_VOCND
2016-02-03AF65964_VOCND
2016-05-04AF76712_VOCND
2016-05-04AF76714_VOCND
2016-05-04AF76711_VOCND
2016-05-04AF76710_VOCND
2016-05-04AF76713_VOCND
2016-08-03AF87878_VOCND
2016-08-03AF87882_VOCND
2016-08-03AF87880_VOCND
2016-08-03AF87879_VOCND
2016-08-03AF87881_VOCND
2016-11-02AF98943_VOCND
2016-11-02AF98941_VOCND
2016-11-02AF98942_VOCND
2016-11-02AF98940_VOCND
2016-11-02AF98944_VOCND
2017-02-01AG08743_VOCND
2017-02-01AG08746_VOCND
2017-02-01AG08747_VOCND
2017-02-01AG08745_VOCND
2017-02-01AG08744_VOCND
2017-05-04AG19789_VOCND
2017-05-04AG19787_VOCND
2017-05-04AG19788_VOCND
2017-05-08AG20109_VOCND
2017-05-08AG20110_VOCND
2017-08-01AG30326_VOCND
2017-08-01AG30328_VOCND
2017-08-01AG30324_VOCND
2017-08-01AG30327_VOCND
2017-08-01AG30325_VOCND
2017-11-01AG41970_VOCND
2017-11-01AG41973_VOCND
2017-11-01AG41971_VOCND
2017-11-01AG41974_VOCND
2017-11-01AG41972_VOCND
2018-02-08AG53373_VOC ND
2018-02-08AG53374_VOC ND
2018-02-08AG53375_VOC ND
2018-02-08AG53376_VOC ND
2018-02-08AG53379_VOC ND
2019-02-07AG96883_VOC ND
2019-02-07AG96884_VOC ND
2019-02-07AG96885_VOC ND
2019-02-07AG96886_VOC ND
2019-02-07AG96887_VOC ND