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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Bethesda WSC

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

 

75

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND40ND
2015ND150ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND150ND
2019ND100ND

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
2014-11-19Q1456730019ND
2014-11-19Q1456730017ND
2014-11-19Q1456730015ND
2014-11-19Q1456730013ND
2015-02-03Q1504044002ND
2015-04-22Q1515039028ND
2015-04-22Q1515039035ND
2015-04-22Q1515039037ND
2015-04-22Q1515039040ND
2015-04-22Q1515039041ND
2015-04-22Q1515039043ND
2015-04-22Q1515039046ND
2015-04-22Q1515039025ND
2015-04-22Q1515039030ND
2015-04-22Q1515039032ND
2015-04-22Q1515039034ND
2015-06-17Q1522842001ND
2015-08-04Q1530233001ND
2015-08-04Q1530233004ND
2016-02-17Q1607184003ND
2016-02-17Q1607184002ND
2016-03-21Q1611365004ND
2016-04-20Q1615721005ND
2016-04-20Q1615721003ND
2016-04-20Q1615721002ND
2016-06-16Q1624597001ND
2016-10-20Q1644787007ND
2016-10-20Q1644787004ND
2016-10-20Q1644787010ND
2016-10-20Q1644787006ND
2016-10-20Q1644787012ND
2016-11-08Q1648213036ND
2016-11-08Q1648213035ND
2016-11-08Q1648213032ND
2016-11-08Q1648213030ND
2017-01-31Q1704122013ND
2017-01-31Q1704122015ND
2017-10-17Q1753293030ND
2017-10-17Q1753293039ND
2017-10-17Q1753293033ND
2017-10-17Q1753293037ND
2017-10-17Q1753293001ND
2017-10-17Q1753293035ND
2017-11-01Q1756223023ND
2017-11-01Q1756223020ND
2017-11-01Q1756223022ND
2017-11-01Q1756223002ND
2017-11-01Q1756223014ND
2017-11-01Q1756223042ND
2017-11-01Q1756223025ND
2018-02-21Q1807322004ND
2018-05-16Q1819957010ND
2018-05-16Q1819957002ND
2018-05-16Q1819957003ND
2018-05-16Q1819957005ND
2018-05-16Q1819957008ND
2018-05-16Q1819957011ND
2018-05-16Q1819957014ND
2018-05-16Q1819957015ND
2018-05-16Q1819957017ND
2018-10-19Q1842052014ND
2018-10-19Q1842052015ND
2018-10-19Q1842052017ND
2018-10-19Q1842052020ND
2018-10-19Q1842052022ND
2019-01-15Q1901990005ND
2019-01-15Q1901990003ND
2019-01-15Q1901990002ND
2019-04-11Q1914886012ND
2019-04-11Q1914886010ND
2019-04-11Q1914886008ND
2019-04-11Q1914886007ND
2019-04-11Q1914886004ND
2019-04-11Q1914886003ND
2019-10-07Q1971784007ND