Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Vinyl chloride

Western Cass Water Supply Corporation

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.

 

37

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND90ND
2021ND60ND
2022ND60ND
2023ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-03-08Q1809687004ND
2018-03-08Q1809687002ND
2018-03-08Q1809687009ND
2018-03-08Q1809687007ND
2018-03-08Q1809687006ND
2019-05-02Q1918236001ND
2019-05-02Q1918236003ND
2019-05-02Q1918236005ND
2019-05-02Q1918236007ND
2019-05-02Q1918236009ND
2020-03-19Q2011997005ND
2020-03-19Q2011997013ND
2020-04-21Q2015767011ND
2020-04-21Q2015767013ND
2020-04-21Q2015767015ND
2020-04-21Q2015767017ND
2020-04-21Q2015767036ND
2020-07-28Q2029440005ND
2020-10-22Q2041222005ND
2021-10-25Q2129911008ND
2021-10-25Q2129911010ND
2021-10-25Q2129911012ND
2021-10-25Q2129911014ND
2021-10-25Q2129911016ND
2021-10-25Q2129911006ND
2022-04-14Q2211593009ND
2022-04-14Q2211593011ND
2022-04-14Q2211593007ND
2022-04-14Q2211593005ND
2022-04-14Q2211593003ND
2022-11-16Q2234548001ND
2023-08-01Q2331111006ND
2023-08-01Q2331111008ND
2023-10-02Q2342120007ND
2023-10-02Q2342120009ND
2023-10-02Q2342120011ND
2023-10-02Q2342120013ND