Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Xylenes (total)

Paw Blue Mountain Division

Xylenes are solvents used in industrial and consumer products, such as cleaning agents and paint thinners. Xylenes cause nervous system damage and may harm developing fetuses.

 

13

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20142.83 ppb31ND - 8.50 ppb
20150.800 ppb21ND - 1.60 ppb
20161.90 ppb21ND - 3.80 ppb
20170.367 ppb31ND - 1.10 ppb
2018ND10ND
2019ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1,800 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1,800 ppb for xylenes 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 the brain and nervous system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10,000 ppb

The legal limit for xylenes, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit may not fully protect against harm to the brain and nervous system due to xylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-01-1524407701ND
2014-01-15244074018.50 ppb
2014-01-1524407301ND
2015-01-2012325180ND
2015-01-20123251581.60 ppb
2016-01-0613792949ND
2016-01-06137929283.80 ppb
2017-01-1115563557ND
2017-01-1115563536ND
2017-01-27155635781.10 ppb
2018-01-1038160101ND
2019-01-0942498201ND
2019-07-1645238801ND