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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Toluene

Sumter-wessex S/d

Toluene is a volatile solvent that harms the nervous and immune systems, damages the liver and may increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Read More.

Toluene is a petroleum-derived chemical found in gasoline and used as a solvent in paints, adhesives and cleaning supplies. Toluene is highly neurotoxic. Exposure can cause fatigue and nausea, and may lead to nervous system disorders.

 

23

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 150 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 150 ppb for toluene 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) 1,000 ppb

The legal limit for toluene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-14AD34707ND
2014-04-07AD38197ND
2014-08-06AD43764ND
2014-12-09AD49143ND
2015-01-28AD50809ND
2015-04-01AD53667ND
2015-07-22AD58636ND
2015-12-09AD67702ND
2016-01-19AD69515ND
2016-05-03AD75241ND
2016-07-26AD79695ND
2016-12-07AD86782ND
2017-03-08AD90939ND
2017-05-03AD93789ND
2017-11-08AE03380ND
2018-03-20AE09636ND
2018-04-24AE11274ND
2018-08-02AE16126ND
2018-11-30AE22083ND
2019-01-10AE23940ND
2019-04-22AE29217ND
2019-08-06AE34914ND
2019-12-10AE41653ND