Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

City of Chico

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.”

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

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
2018-12-13Q1851676003ND
2018-12-13Q1851676006ND
2018-12-13Q1851676001ND
2019-01-08Q1900653001ND
2019-01-08Q1900653006ND
2019-01-08Q1900653010ND
2020-03-02Q2007727001ND
2020-06-01Q2021442001ND
2020-08-19Q2033209003ND
2020-08-19Q2033209001ND
2021-08-11Q2121372007ND
2021-08-11Q2121372009ND
2021-08-11Q2121372011ND
2022-09-08Q2226813001ND
2022-09-08Q2226813003ND
2022-09-08Q2226813005ND
2023-05-30Q2319948009ND
2023-05-30Q2319948011ND
2023-05-30Q2319948013ND