Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Ethylbenzene

Othello Water Department

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.”

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND20ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND50ND
2022ND80ND
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
2018-12-13ND
2019-06-18ND
2019-07-08ND
2021-03-314102279ND
2021-08-114169236ND
2021-08-114169108ND
2021-10-134202781ND
2021-10-134202782ND
2022-03-154263100ND
2022-06-024298828ND
2022-06-084298812ND
2022-06-084298813ND
2022-08-084335854ND
2022-09-064364663ND
2022-09-064364651ND
2022-10-064364641ND
2023-04-174448578ND
2023-06-124499780ND