Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

San Diego Municipal Utility District 1

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.”

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND20ND
20230.575 ppb42ND - 1.20 ppb

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

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-12AE13322ND
2018-06-04AE28555ND
2019-02-11AE53819ND
2019-05-06AE64908ND
2020-06-04AF14192ND
2020-06-04AF14196ND
2021-06-07AF57519ND
2021-07-22AF63070ND
2021-11-29AF77508ND
2021-11-29AF77520ND
2022-01-20AF80982ND
2022-01-20AF81002ND
2023-02-22AG29940ND
2023-04-24AG377041.10 ppb
2023-07-24AG498321.20 ppb
2023-11-15AG63792ND