Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Ruth Water District

NOTE: Ruth Water District purchases water from Ely Municipal Water Department which is required to test for ethylbenzene. Sample information shown below was taken by Ely Municipal Water Department.

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.”

 

13

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND40ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND60ND
2023N/A00N/A

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: Ruth Water District purchases water from Ely Municipal Water Department which is required to test for ethylbenzene. Sample information shown below was taken by Ely Municipal Water Department.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-11-0818110223-007ND
2019-11-1419110404-002ND
2019-11-1419110404-003ND
2019-11-1419110404-005ND
2019-11-2119110631-001ND
2020-12-22202012290116ND
2021-12-09202112150655ND
2022-01-13202201200473ND
2022-05-1222050451-001ND
2022-05-1222050451-002ND
2022-07-0722070169-002ND
2022-07-0722070169-003ND
2022-07-0722070169-004ND