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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

City of Pocatello

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

 

65

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND80ND
2015ND80ND
2016ND160ND
2017ND80ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND160ND

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
2014-04-30VI40413001ND
2014-09-09VI40907907ND
2014-09-09VI40907906ND
2014-09-09VI40907905ND
2014-09-09VI40907904ND
2014-09-09VI40907903ND
2014-09-09VI40907902ND
2014-09-09VI40907901ND
2015-09-10VI50906301ND
2015-09-10VI50906302ND
2015-09-10VI50906303ND
2015-09-10VI50906304ND
2015-09-10VI50906402ND
2015-09-10VI50906403ND
2015-09-10VI50906404ND
2015-09-10VI50906401ND
2016-10-17VI61012210ND
2016-10-17VI61012201ND
2016-10-17VI61012202ND
2016-10-17VI61012203ND
2016-10-17VI61012204ND
2016-10-17VI61012205ND
2016-10-17VI61012206ND
2016-10-17VI61012207ND
2016-10-17VI61012208ND
2016-10-17VI61012209ND
2016-10-17VI61012211ND
2016-10-17VI61012212ND
2016-10-17VI61012213ND
2016-10-17VI61012215ND
2016-10-17VI61012216ND
2016-10-18VI61013201ND
2017-10-04VI71004906ND
2017-10-04VI71004905ND
2017-10-04VI71004904ND
2017-10-04VI71004903ND
2017-10-04VI71004902ND
2017-10-05VI71004908ND
2017-10-05VI71004907ND
2017-10-05VI71004901ND
2018-05-02VI80502301ND
2018-09-26VI80927601ND
2018-09-26VI80927602ND
2018-09-26VI80927603ND
2018-09-26VI80927604ND
2018-09-26VI80927606ND
2018-09-26VI80927607ND
2018-09-26VI80927608ND
2018-09-26VI80927605ND
2019-10-08VI91008802ND
2019-10-08VI91008803ND
2019-10-08VI91008804ND
2019-10-08VI91008805ND
2019-10-08VI91008806ND
2019-10-08VI91008807ND
2019-10-08VI91008808ND
2019-10-08VI91009201ND
2019-10-08VI91009202ND
2019-10-08VI91009203ND
2019-10-08VI91009204ND
2019-10-08VI91009205ND
2019-10-08VI91009206ND
2019-10-08VI91009207ND
2019-10-08VI91009208ND
2019-10-08VI91008801ND