Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

City of Tacoma

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.

 

11

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND80ND
2022ND30ND
2023N/A00N/A

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
2021-06-214149654ND
2021-06-214149653ND
2021-06-304143019ND
2021-06-304143018ND
2021-07-014149655ND
2021-07-214159386ND
2021-07-214159385ND
2021-07-224159384ND
2022-02-014259184ND
2022-09-154370819ND
2022-11-154383777ND