Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Toluene

Golden State Water Company - Barstow

Toluene is a volatile solvent that harms the nervous and immune systems, damages the liver and may increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Read More.

Toluene is a petroleum-derived chemical found in gasoline and used as a solvent in paints, adhesives and cleaning supplies. Toluene is highly neurotoxic. Exposure can cause fatigue and nausea, and may lead to nervous system disorders.

 

32

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
2014ND150ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND10ND
2018ND140ND
2019ND20ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 150 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 150 ppb for toluene 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 internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1,000 ppb

The legal limit for toluene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-112706-034-0749ND
2014-02-112706-033-0716ND
2014-02-112706-019-0801ND
2014-02-112706-017-0732ND
2014-02-112706-014-0700ND
2014-02-122706-013-0843ND
2014-02-122706-008-0804ND
2014-02-122706-009-0747ND
2014-02-122706-011-0730ND
2014-02-122706-012-0717ND
2014-02-182706-020-0936ND
2014-02-182706-021-0911ND
2014-02-182706-003-0750ND
2014-02-182706-002-0817ND
2014-02-182706-001-0841ND
2017-02-219590-018-1409ND
2018-05-149590-002-1031ND
2018-05-149590-033-0841ND
2018-05-149590-021-1003ND
2018-05-149590-017-1330ND
2018-05-149590-014-0827ND
2018-05-149590-013-1245ND
2018-05-149590-012-1259ND
2018-05-149590-008-1315ND
2018-05-149590-005-0723ND
2018-05-149590-003-1040ND
2018-05-149590-001-1025ND
2018-05-309590-034-1200ND
2018-05-309590-020-1050ND
2018-05-309590-019-1225ND
2019-04-159590-011-1303ND
2019-08-059590-009-1155ND