Benzene
CTWC - Shoreline Region-Guilford System
Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It also damages blood cells and the nervous system. Emissions from petroleum processing, hazardous waste landfills and underground storage tanks contaminate drinking water with benzene. Read More.
To protect against cancer risks, California set a public health goal for benzene in drinking water at 0.15 parts per billion, 30 times lower than the federal legal limit of 5 parts per billion.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | ND | 13 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 12 | 0 | ND |
2016 | ND | 11 | 0 | ND |
2017 | ND | 10 | 0 | ND |
2018 | ND | 11 | 0 | ND |
2019 | ND | 10 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.15 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.15 ppb for benzene 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) 5 ppb
The legal limit for benzene, 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 benzene exposure.
ppb = parts per billion
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-01-29 | 140130CWCBVOC1 | ND |
2014-02-24 | 2223VOC1 | ND |
2014-03-05 | 2672VOC1 | ND |
2014-04-21 | 5353VOC1 | ND |
2014-04-21 | 5354VOC1 | ND |
2014-06-12 | 8366VOC1 | ND |
2014-06-12 | 8367VOC1 | ND |
2014-06-12 | 8370VOC1 | ND |
2014-08-13 | 140915-0128VOC1 | ND |
2014-08-13 | 140915-0129VOC1 | ND |
2014-08-13 | BG93593VOC1 | ND |
2014-08-13 | BG93595VOC1 | ND |
2014-11-03 | BH35439VOC1 | ND |
2015-01-21 | BH65787VOC1 | ND |
2015-02-12 | BH73177VOC1 | ND |
2015-03-09 | BH80664VOC1 | ND |
2015-06-02 | BJ24602VOC1 | ND |
2015-06-02 | BJ24617VOC1 | ND |
2015-06-02 | BJ24619VOC1 | ND |
2015-06-02 | BJ24597VOC1 | ND |
2015-06-03 | BJ25404VOC1 | ND |
2015-07-27 | BJ63977VOC1 | ND |
2015-07-27 | BJ63961VOC1 | ND |
2015-10-19 | BK10284VOC1 | ND |
2015-11-03 | BK17717VOC1 | ND |
2016-01-11 | BK50864VOC1 | ND |
2016-01-19 | BK54776VOC1 | ND |
2016-01-19 | BK54777VOC1 | ND |
2016-02-11 | BK64351VOC1 | ND |
2016-03-14 | BK78125VOC1 | ND |
2016-04-11 | BN11374VOC1 | ND |
2016-04-11 | BN11376VOC1 | ND |
2016-06-01 | BN44876VOC1 | ND |
2016-06-01 | BN44892VOC1 | ND |
2016-07-12 | BN71476VOC1 | ND |
2016-07-13 | BN72282VOC1 | ND |
2017-01-17 | BX30298VOC1 | ND |
2017-01-17 | BX30299VOC1 | ND |
2017-01-18 | BX31348VOC1 | ND |
2017-01-30 | BX40966VOC1 | ND |
2017-03-08 | BX82062VOC1 | ND |
2017-06-29 | BY50637VOC1 | ND |
2017-09-25 | BZ09163VOC1 | ND |
2017-10-24 | BZ27135VOC1 | ND |
2017-10-25 | BZ27134VOC1 | ND |
2017-11-09 | BZ38785VOC1 | ND |
2018-01-16 | BZ73485VOC1 | ND |
2018-03-30 | CA11464VOC1 | ND |
2018-04-11 | CA18261VOC1 | ND |
2018-07-09 | CA85598VOC1 | ND |
2018-07-17 | CA91979 | ND |
2018-09-13 | VOC1 200505275 | ND |
2018-09-13 | VOC1 200505276 | ND |
2018-09-13 | VOC1 200505266 | ND |
2018-09-19 | VOC1 200506116 | ND |
2018-09-20 | VOC1 200506324 | ND |
2018-10-25 | VOC1 200510568 | ND |
2019-01-30 | VOC1 200520057 | ND |
2019-06-24 | VOC1 200538005 | ND |
2019-07-08 | VOC1 200541172 | ND |
2019-07-08 | VOC1 200539194 | ND |
2019-07-16 | VOC1 200541091 | ND |
2019-07-16 | VOC1 200540648 | ND |
2019-07-16 | VOC1 200540644 | ND |
2019-09-17 | VOC1 200549238 | ND |
2019-09-18 | VOC1 200549465 | ND |
2019-12-10 | VOC1 200559663 | ND |