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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Ethylbenzene

North Milam Water Supply Corporation

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.”

 

11

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015ND10ND
2016ND20ND
20170.875 ppb41ND - 3.50 ppb
20180.400 ppb21ND - 0.800 ppb
2019ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2015-05-12AC91664ND
2016-02-11AD23429ND
2016-10-31AD55582ND
2017-02-08AD69648ND
2017-02-08AD69646ND
2017-04-04AD782973.50 ppb
2017-07-11AD88887ND
2018-01-25AE10576ND
2018-06-11AE292800.800 ppb
2019-05-15AE66516ND
2019-05-15AE66510ND