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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Vinyl chloride

Southern Nevada Water System

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

 

57

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND80ND
2015ND110ND
2016ND110ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND100ND
2019ND80ND

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
2014-03-1714030266-004ND
2014-03-1714030266-005ND
2014-06-1914060434-004ND
2014-06-1914060434-005ND
2014-09-1614090286-004ND
2014-09-1614090286-005ND
2014-12-2214120389-004ND
2014-12-2214120389-005ND
2015-03-1615030239-004ND
2015-03-1615030239-005ND
2015-05-0415040554-002ND
2015-06-2215060404-004ND
2015-06-2215060404-005ND
2015-09-2115090335-004ND
2015-09-2115090335-005ND
2015-09-2815090449-004ND
2015-09-2815090449-005ND
2015-12-0715120049-005ND
2015-12-0715120049-004ND
2016-03-0716030052-004ND
2016-03-0716030052-005ND
2016-06-06S1601186003ND
2016-06-06S1601186003ND
2016-06-06S1601186004ND
2016-06-06S1601186004ND
2016-09-12S1602499004ND
2016-09-12S1602499003ND
2016-12-19S1606919004ND
2016-12-19S1606919002ND
2016-12-19S1606919003ND
2017-03-13S1607065002ND
2017-03-13S1607065003ND
2017-03-20S1701773004ND
2017-06-05S1701906003ND
2017-06-05S1701906004ND
2017-09-05S1704156003ND
2017-09-05S1704156004ND
2017-12-05S1706371003ND
2017-12-05S1706371004ND
2018-03-05S1708624004ND
2018-03-05S1708624003ND
2018-03-05S1708624002ND
2018-06-05S1801745003ND
2018-06-05S1801745004ND
2018-09-04S1803824003ND
2018-09-04S1803824004ND
2018-12-11S1806206002ND
2018-12-11S1806206003ND
2018-12-11S1806206004ND
2019-03-05S1809855002ND
2019-03-05S1809855003ND
2019-06-04S1902017003ND
2019-06-04S1902017004ND
2019-09-04S1925728004ND
2019-09-04S1925728003ND
2019-12-10S1967023004ND
2019-12-10S1967023003ND