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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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MTBE

City of Earth

MTBE was used as gasoline oxygenation additive to boost the octane number. In 2005, MTBE was replaced by ethanol as a gasoline additive. MTBE causes cancers in rats.

 

11

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
20190.275 ppb21ND - 0.550 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 13 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 13 ppb for MTBE 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.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-12Q1404319003ND
2015-01-28Q1503490001ND
2015-04-21Q1514848006ND
2016-02-04Q1605126001ND
2016-04-25Q1616090002ND
2017-01-19Q1702731002ND
2017-04-11Q1714715002ND
2018-01-18Q1802120001ND
2018-04-11Q1814883007ND
2019-01-22Q19031540060.550 ppb
2019-01-22Q1903154002ND