Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

El Dorado Utility District

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.”

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.250 ppb21ND - 0.500 ppb
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
20210.233 ppb31ND - 0.700 ppb
20221.38 ppb43ND - 3.10 ppb
20230.750 ppb21ND - 1.50 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
2018-05-23AE27472ND
2018-05-23AE274940.500 ppb
2019-11-07AE88917ND
2019-11-07AE88949ND
2020-09-03AF26496ND
2020-09-03AF26498ND
2021-07-28AF63797ND
2021-07-28AF638030.700 ppb
2021-11-01AF75259ND
2022-03-25AF90742ND
2022-03-25AF907440.900 ppb
2022-05-23AF980241.50 ppb
2022-08-23AG105303.10 ppb
2023-06-29AG467961.50 ppb
2023-06-29AG46798ND