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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Xylenes (total)

Penn State Univ.

Xylenes are solvents used in industrial and consumer products, such as cleaning agents and paint thinners. Xylenes cause nervous system damage and may harm developing fetuses.

 

67

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND140ND
2015ND70ND
2016ND240ND
2017ND120ND
2018ND60ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1,800 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1,800 ppb for xylenes 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 the brain and nervous system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10,000 ppb

The legal limit for xylenes, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the brain and nervous system due to xylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-234A23025-06ND
2014-01-234A23025-07ND
2014-01-234A23033-06ND
2014-02-204B20042-07ND
2014-02-204B20042-06ND
2014-02-204B20041-07ND
2014-03-114C11016-07ND
2014-03-114C11027-07ND
2014-03-114C11016-06ND
2014-04-094D09031-01ND
2014-04-094D09037-01ND
2014-04-094D09036-01ND
2014-06-114F11107-04ND
2014-06-114F11107-05ND
2015-01-2113561281ND
2015-11-1113561218ND
2015-11-1113561170ND
2015-11-1113561194ND
2015-12-1013681499ND
2015-12-1013681523ND
2015-12-1013681498ND
2016-02-2313917124ND
2016-02-2313917076ND
2016-02-2313917123ND
2016-03-1614032189ND
2016-03-1614032212ND
2016-03-1614032235ND
2016-04-2014163562ND
2016-04-2014163610ND
2016-04-2014163609ND
2016-05-1814312918ND
2016-05-1814312917ND
2016-05-1814312942ND
2016-06-2114471242ND
2016-06-2114471243ND
2016-06-2114471268ND
2016-07-1914636485ND
2016-07-1914636484ND
2016-07-1914636435ND
2016-08-2314804517ND
2016-08-2314804492ND
2016-08-2314804542ND
2016-09-2814975926ND
2016-09-2814975900ND
2016-09-2814975901ND
2017-01-1715573256ND
2017-01-1715573257ND
2017-01-1815573206ND
2017-02-2315709669ND
2017-02-2315709670ND
2017-03-2315850712ND
2017-03-2815850840ND
2017-04-1816001600ND
2017-04-1816001599ND
2017-07-1216473280ND
2017-10-3116937414ND
2017-11-3017077357ND
2018-01-318A31018ND
2018-02-228B23070-07ND
2018-04-118D12138-07ND
2018-07-118G12180-04ND
2018-08-018H02080-01ND
2018-10-048J05241-01ND
2019-02-219B22087-01ND
2019-05-099E13165-01ND
2019-08-149H15241-01ND
2019-10-249J28033-01ND