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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Ethylbenzene

Fort Atkinson Waterworks

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.”

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.167 ppb61ND - 1.000 ppb
20150.0600 ppb61ND - 0.360 ppb
20160.690 ppb110.690 ppb
20170.0833 ppb61ND - 0.500 ppb
20180.280 ppb110.280 ppb
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

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
2014-07-30807117ND
2014-07-30807123ND
2014-07-30807111ND
2014-07-30807114ND
2014-07-308071091.000 ppb
2014-07-30807120ND
2015-08-26879079ND
2015-08-268790840.360 ppb
2015-08-26879077ND
2015-08-26879081ND
2015-08-26879073ND
2015-08-26879075ND
2016-08-179401020.690 ppb
2017-07-191005224ND
2017-07-191005228ND
2017-07-191005232ND
2017-07-191005216ND
2017-07-191005220ND
2017-07-1910052210.500 ppb
2018-07-2510696230.280 ppb