Ethylbenzene

Oyster Point S/d

NOTE: Oyster Point S/d purchases water from Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - New Hanover County which is required to test for ethylbenzene. Sample information shown below was taken by Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - New Hanover County.

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.”

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	ND	3	ND
2015	ND	2	ND
2016	ND	1	ND
2017	ND	3	ND
2018	ND	2	ND
2019	ND	3	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
2014-04-10	201404120117	ND
2014-04-11	201404150331	ND
2014-06-04	201406050575	ND
2015-03-12		ND
2015-06-04		ND
2016-06-08	3467619	ND
2017-04-10	3671236	ND
2017-04-10	3671296	ND
2017-06-06	3708199	ND
2018-03-15	3891667	ND
2018-06-05	3953498	ND
2019-06-04	4314170	ND
2019-09-12	4419227	ND
2019-10-01	4443607	ND