Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Toluene

City of Dorchester

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.

 

12

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
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
20230.615 ppb21ND - 1.23 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-07-05Q1826628001ND
2018-07-05Q1826628010ND
2019-08-13Q1954235002ND
2019-08-13Q1954235004ND
2020-10-15Q2040499003ND
2020-11-23Q2046450001ND
2021-09-20Q2125598003ND
2021-12-13Q2134947004ND
2022-06-29Q2218370001ND
2022-10-19Q2231829003ND
2023-08-23Q2335730001ND
2023-11-13Q23484300011.23 ppb