Benzene

Wallace, Town of

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.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	N/A
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	ND	8	ND
2017	N/A	0	N/A
2018	N/A	0	N/A
2019	ND	7	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
2016-08-23	37729_16-28796	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28797	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28798	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28799	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28800	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28801	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28802	ND
2016-08-23	37729_16-28803	ND
2019-08-14	37729_19-34793	ND
2019-08-14	37729_19-34800	ND
2019-08-14	37729_19-34814	ND
2019-08-14	37729_19-34824	ND
2019-08-14	37729_19-34829	ND
2019-08-14	37729_19-34849	ND
2019-08-19	37729_19-35353	ND