Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Grand Harbor 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.”

 

14

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND20ND
202212.0 ppb42ND - 33.0 ppb
2023ND20ND

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
2018-06-19AE30463ND
2018-06-19AE30487ND
2019-06-13AE70599ND
2019-06-13AE70603ND
2020-07-16AF19727ND
2020-07-16AF19731ND
2021-08-04AF64809ND
2021-08-04AF64813ND
2022-03-08AF88096ND
2022-03-08AF8811633.0 ppb
2022-06-01AF99089ND
2022-09-29AG1548015.0 ppb
2023-08-09AG51989ND
2023-08-09AG51991ND