Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Western Hills Water System

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.”

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.450 ppb41ND - 1.80 ppb
20190.550 ppb42ND - 1.20 ppb
2020ND40ND
20210.250 ppb41ND - 1.000 ppb
20220.625 ppb42ND - 2.00 ppb
2023ND40ND

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
2018-09-18AE407351.80 ppb
2018-09-18AE40745ND
2018-09-18AE40749ND
2018-09-18AE40729ND
2019-06-17AE710901.20 ppb
2019-06-17AE71098ND
2019-06-17AE71118ND
2019-06-17AE711381.000 ppb
2020-06-15AF15206ND
2020-06-15AF15208ND
2020-06-15AF15210ND
2020-06-15AF15214ND
2021-08-03AF64447ND
2021-08-03AF64451ND
2021-09-23AF71029ND
2021-10-14AF736031.000 ppb
2022-03-22AF900502.00 ppb
2022-03-22AF90052ND
2022-03-22AF90054ND
2022-10-04AG159200.500 ppb
2023-07-12AG48162ND
2023-07-12AG48172ND
2023-07-12AG48178ND
2023-07-12AG48180ND