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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Downey Water Department

Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen used for production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. Discharges from plastics manufacturing can contaminate drinking water with vinyl chloride. Read More.

Exposure to vinyl chloride increases the risk of cancer and can damage the liver and nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.05 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 40 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 2 parts per billion.

Plastic pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) are widely used for drinking water distribution lines and internal plumbing, raising concern about vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water. A study published in 2011 by Ryan Walter of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering suggested that small amounts of vinyl chloride can leach from PVC pipes. Vinyl chloride can also form in the pipes as a result of water disinfection with chlorine.

In an assessment completed in 2000, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment stated that drinking water is not a significant source of exposure to vinyl chloride for the general population.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

118

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND200ND
2015ND170ND
2016ND180ND
2017ND200ND
2018ND230ND
2019ND200ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.05 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.05 ppb for vinyl chloride 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) 2 ppb

The legal limit for vinyl chloride, established in 1987, 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 vinyl chloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-10-072706-007-0752ND
2014-10-072706-009-0812ND
2014-10-072706-010-0830ND
2014-10-072706-011-0734ND
2014-10-072706-012-0937ND
2014-10-072706-014-0955ND
2014-10-072706-016-0715ND
2014-10-072706-032-0849ND
2014-10-072706-033-0918ND
2014-10-082706-017-1014ND
2014-10-082706-018-0958ND
2014-10-082706-019-0937ND
2014-10-082706-020-0918ND
2014-10-082706-021-0840ND
2014-10-082706-024-0858ND
2014-10-082706-025-0716ND
2014-10-082706-026-0820ND
2014-10-082706-029-0754ND
2014-10-082706-030-0737ND
2014-10-092706-005-1102ND
2015-08-182706-007-1120ND
2015-08-182706-009-1052ND
2015-08-182706-011-1038ND
2015-08-182706-012-1138ND
2015-08-182706-014-1152ND
2015-08-182706-016-1026ND
2015-08-182706-032-1107ND
2015-08-192706-017-1050ND
2015-08-192706-018-1031ND
2015-08-192706-019-0951ND
2015-08-192706-020-0935ND
2015-08-192706-024-0856ND
2015-08-192706-025-0722ND
2015-08-192706-026-0835ND
2015-08-192706-029-0803ND
2015-08-192706-030-0743ND
2015-12-172706-005-0922ND
2016-04-072706-033-0803ND
2016-08-102706-005-0855ND
2016-08-102706-007-0918ND
2016-08-102706-009-0830ND
2016-08-102706-011-0941ND
2016-08-102706-012-1010ND
2016-08-102706-014-1026ND
2016-08-102706-016-0750ND
2016-08-102706-033-0728ND
2016-08-172706-017-0948ND
2016-08-172706-018-0922ND
2016-08-172706-019-1019ND
2016-08-172706-020-1046ND
2016-08-172706-024-0822ND
2016-08-172706-025-0717ND
2016-08-172706-026-0807ND
2016-08-172706-030-0743ND
2016-08-172706-032-0847ND
2017-01-102706-005-0856ND
2017-01-102706-007-1050ND
2017-01-102706-009-0826ND
2017-01-102706-011-0959ND
2017-01-102706-032-1030ND
2017-01-112706-012-1012ND
2017-01-112706-014-1115ND
2017-01-112706-016-0952ND
2017-01-112706-017-1103ND
2017-01-112706-018-1038ND
2017-01-112706-020-0931ND
2017-01-112706-024-0903ND
2017-01-112706-025-0725ND
2017-01-112706-026-0832ND
2017-01-112706-030-0802ND
2017-02-282706-010-0740ND
2017-02-282706-021-0835ND
2017-04-132706-029-0845ND
2017-12-129588-033-1042ND
2017-12-269588-019-0906ND
2018-02-139588-005-1105ND
2018-02-139588-007-0900ND
2018-02-139588-009-0930ND
2018-02-139588-010-0945ND
2018-02-139588-011-1200ND
2018-02-139588-014-1255ND
2018-02-139588-016-1132ND
2018-02-139588-032-1020ND
2018-02-139588-033-1220ND
2018-02-149588-017-1136ND
2018-02-149588-020-1206ND
2018-02-149588-024-1226ND
2018-02-149588-026-1059ND
2018-02-149588-029-1039ND
2018-02-149588-030-1020ND
2018-02-219588-018-0925ND
2018-02-219588-019-1000ND
2018-02-219588-021-1047ND
2018-03-149588-012-1131ND
2018-03-269588-025-1035ND
2018-05-019588-019-1159ND
2018-10-239588-018-1314ND
2018-11-069588-012-1045ND
2019-01-159588-032-0755ND
2019-01-249588-025-0730ND
2019-01-249588-029-0905ND
2019-01-249588-030-0822ND
2019-01-259588-005-1048ND
2019-01-259588-009-1026ND
2019-01-259588-010-1008ND
2019-01-259588-020-0938ND
2019-01-259588-021-0840ND
2019-01-259588-026-0806ND
2019-01-309588-011-1030ND
2019-01-309588-019-0820ND
2019-01-309588-033-0735ND
2019-01-319588-014-1000ND
2019-01-319588-016-0930ND
2019-01-319588-017-1015ND
2019-01-319588-024-0820ND
2019-04-099588-033-0810ND
2019-07-099588-033-0916ND
2019-09-309588-033-0830ND