Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

City of Refugio

Hexachlorobenzene is a cancer-causing, neurotoxic and hormone-disrupting chemical used as a pesticide until 1984. It is still found in landfills and hazardous waste sites, and can be detected in people.

 

13

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND20ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND20ND
2023ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.03 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.03 ppb for hexachlorobenzene 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): 1 ppb

The legal limit for hexachlorobenzene, established in 1992, 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 hexachlorobenzene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-20AE14538ND
2019-06-10AE69838ND
2019-08-15AE79068ND
2020-03-12AF02709ND
2020-03-12AF02710ND
2020-04-15AF06927ND
2020-07-30AF21486ND
2020-10-28AF32704ND
2021-03-15AF46950ND
2022-04-29AF95172ND
2022-04-29AF95173ND
2023-02-16AG29460ND
2023-06-05AG43097ND