Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Domestic Water Company Royal Forest Subdivision

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.”

 

13

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.40 ppb21ND - 2.80 ppb
20190.550 ppb21ND - 1.10 ppb
20200.433 ppb31ND - 1.30 ppb
2021ND20ND
2022ND20ND
20230.300 ppb21ND - 0.600 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
2018-05-09AE25753ND
2018-05-09AE257552.80 ppb
2019-03-04AE56877ND
2019-03-04AE568811.10 ppb
2020-02-20AE99297ND
2020-02-20AE99313ND
2020-05-26AF126001.30 ppb
2021-06-11AF57836ND
2021-12-22AF79282ND
2022-04-12AF92919ND
2022-04-12AF92923ND
2023-08-16AG52846ND
2023-08-16AG528560.600 ppb