Ethylbenzene

City of Baltimore

Ethylbenzene, a component of petroleum, is a volatile cancer-causing chemical primarily used for production of plastics and rubber. Ethylbenzene is also released from gasoline fuel emissions. Read More.

In animal studies, exposure to ethylbenzene causes tumors. Ethylbenzene can also damage lungs, liver, kidneys and the nervous system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylbenzene as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

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	ND	3	ND
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	ND	3	ND
2017	ND	1	ND
2018	ND	5	ND
2019	ND	5	ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 300 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 300 ppb for ethylbenzene 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) 700 ppb

The legal limit for ethylbenzene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1950s.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-02-04	0300002_01_TREAT	ND
2014-02-11	0300002_02_TREAT	ND
2014-02-12	0300002_02_TREAT	ND
2016-05-05	0300002_TREATED_	ND
2016-05-10	0300002_TREATED_	ND
2016-05-16	0300002_TREATEDT	ND
2017-04-06	TREATED_A	ND
2018-02-14	E18002961001	ND
2018-05-14	E18004097001	ND
2018-05-14	E18004097004	ND
2018-09-17	E19000965008	ND
2018-10-25	E19001402004	ND
2019-05-09	MONT13033376	ND
2019-05-09	MONT23033376	ND
2019-05-10	ASH3033376	ND
2019-05-21	E19003945012	ND
2019-07-31	E20000429004	ND