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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Bi County WSC 1

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

65

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND30ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND110ND
2018ND110ND
2019ND140ND

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
2014-01-23Q1402181033ND
2014-07-14Q1427473016ND
2014-07-14Q1427473014ND
2015-02-05Q1504623034ND
2015-02-05Q1504623033ND
2015-02-05Q1504623030ND
2015-02-05Q1504623028ND
2015-02-05Q1504623026ND
2015-02-05Q1504623024ND
2015-02-05Q1504623022ND
2015-04-16Q1514410007ND
2015-04-16Q1514410006ND
2015-04-16Q1514410003ND
2015-04-16Q1514410002ND
2015-09-04Q1534657006ND
2015-09-18Q1536729002ND
2015-10-28Q1542684007ND
2015-10-28Q1542684006ND
2016-04-19Q1615295017ND
2016-04-19Q1615295011ND
2016-04-19Q1615295008ND
2016-04-19Q1615295006ND
2016-10-06Q1642553011ND
2016-10-06Q1642553002ND
2016-10-06Q1642553003ND
2016-10-06Q1642553006ND
2016-10-06Q1642553008ND
2016-10-06Q1642553009ND
2016-10-06Q1642553014ND
2017-01-05Q1700559003ND
2017-01-05Q1700559023ND
2017-01-05Q1700559025ND
2017-01-05Q1700559020ND
2017-03-29Q1713282010ND
2017-03-29Q1713282008ND
2017-03-29Q1713282005ND
2017-03-29Q1713282004ND
2017-03-29Q1713282001ND
2017-10-02Q1748547017ND
2017-10-02Q1748547008ND
2018-01-09Q1800903011ND
2018-01-09Q1800903008ND
2018-01-09Q1800903009ND
2018-01-09Q1800903013ND
2018-01-09Q1800903001ND
2018-01-09Q1800903003ND
2018-01-09Q1800903015ND
2018-01-09Q1800903017ND
2018-01-09Q1800903020ND
2018-01-09Q1800903021ND
2018-01-09Q1800903006ND
2019-01-15Q1902083010ND
2019-01-15Q1902083003ND
2019-01-15Q1902083005ND
2019-01-15Q1902083007ND
2019-01-15Q1902083008ND
2019-01-15Q1902083013ND
2019-01-15Q1902083014ND
2019-01-15Q1902083016ND
2019-01-29Q1904181008ND
2019-01-29Q1904181005ND
2019-01-29Q1904181003ND
2019-06-11Q1934121002ND
2019-08-07Q1951925006ND
2019-10-14Q1972404007ND