Ethylbenzene
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.”
2017-2019:
45
states detected
832
utilities detected
7.1 million
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for ethylbenzene
Cancer
Harm to the lungs
Harm to the liver
Harm to the kidney
Change to the central nervous system
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
States reporting ethylbenzene in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Texas | 310 | 3,698,107 | |
| Colorado | 23 | 570,904 | |
| Wisconsin | 53 | 483,350 | |
| Florida | 33 | 449,109 | |
| California | 6 | 399,189 | |
| Arizona | 14 | 254,560 | |
| Alabama | 9 | 200,871 | |
| Mississippi | 34 | 150,041 | |
| New Jersey | 11 | 107,180 | |
| Utah | 8 | 106,608 | |
| Iowa | 48 | 97,794 | |
| Ohio | 18 | 85,554 | |
| North Carolina | 35 | 64,737 | |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 47,347 | |
| Washington | 5 | 35,934 | |
| Illinois | 11 | 29,905 | |
| Georgia | 25 | 29,643 | |
| Kansas | 4 | 28,944 | |
| Louisiana | 8 | 27,197 | |
| New Mexico | 9 | 26,531 | |
| Minnesota | 12 | 25,691 | |
| Michigan | 14 | 24,565 | |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 23,906 | |
| Virginia | 44 | 23,904 | |
| Missouri | 11 | 18,068 | |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 15,131 | |
| Maryland | 5 | 14,679 | |
| Alaska | 10 | 8,487 | |
| Nebraska | 4 | 7,835 | |
| Delaware | 4 | 6,803 | |
| Hawaii | 1 | 5,205 | |
| Arkansas | 8 | 5,104 | |
| Oregon | 5 | 4,850 | |
| North Dakota | 2 | 4,788 | |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 4,097 | |
| Wyoming | 2 | 2,867 | |
| South Carolina | 3 | 1,347 | |
| West Virginia | 1 | 847 | |
| South Dakota | 1 | 766 | |
| Vermont | 2 | 626 | |
| Indiana | 2 | 450 | |
| Nevada | 2 | 417 | |
| Connecticut | 3 | 407 | |
| New York | 1 | 240 | |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 188 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce ethylbenzene
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of ethylbenzene, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Carriage Estates | Medford, OR | 1 of 6 | 15.5 ppb | 150 |
| Wagon Wheel | Londondery, NH | 6 of 15 | 10.4 ppb | 88 |
| Triple J Mobile Home Park | Plainview, TX | 1 of 2 | 7.75 ppb | 34 |
| Meridian Naval Air Station | Meridian, MS | 1 of 1 | 7.21 ppb | 2,800 |
| Murray, Village of | Murray, NE | 1 of 2 | 6.80 ppb | 462 |
| Spinnaker Point | Cary, NC | 6 of 14 | 6.68 ppb | 144 |
| Delaware Water Gap Borough | Delaware Water Gap, PA | 1 of 15 | 6.65 ppb | 850 |
| Mountain Meadows | Glenwood Springs, CO | 3 of 12 | 6.52 ppb | 115 |
| Tv Hills Water | Wetmore, CO | 1 of 2 | 6.40 ppb | 38 |
| Kilmarnock, Town of | Kilmarnock, VA | 2 of 11 | 6.40 ppb | 1,487 |
| Carl Junction PWS | Carl Junction, MO | 3 of 16 | 6.39 ppb | 7,445 |
| Keswick Farms | Roanoke, VA | 3 of 4 | 6.35 ppb | 60 |
| Corrotoman By The Bay | Warsaw, VA | 10 of 12 | 5.95 ppb | 417 |
| Hawaii Volcanoes Nat.park | Hawaii National Park, HI | 7 of 9 | 5.89 ppb | 5,205 |
| Cedar Valley Subdivision | Pflugerville, TX | 3 of 6 | 5.60 ppb | 182 |
| Mountain Falls Water System Gbwc | Pahrump, NV | 1 of 5 | 5.50 ppb | 1,718 |
| North Slope Borough - Point Hope | Barrow, AK | 2 of 10 | 5.10 ppb | 881 |
| Quinton Park Subdivision | New Kent, VA | 2 of 6 | 5.00 ppb | 147 |
| Holston Utility District | Bristol, TN | 1 of 1 | 4.70 ppb | 2,806 |
| Stinson Beach County Water District | Stinson Beach, CA | 1 of 3 | 4.67 ppb | 1,500 |
| Parrott | Parrott, GA | 1 of 9 | 4.44 ppb | 234 |
| Spade Water Supply Corporation | Spade, TX | 2 of 5 | 3.97 ppb | 125 |
| North Slope Borough - Point Lay | Barrow, AK | 7 of 9 | 3.62 ppb | 237 |
| Forks Municipal Water Department | Forks, WA | 1 of 3 | 3.37 ppb | 4,350 |
| Newport Water District | Newport, ME | 1 of 4 | 3.25 ppb | 1,748 |
| River Oaks Development | Ankeny, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 200 |
| Dmww-greenbrier Estates | Des Moines, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 300 |
| Earlham Municipal Waterworks | Earlham, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 1,450 |
| Martensdale Water Supply | Martensdale, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 465 |
| Norwalk Hartford Mobile Home Park | Hartford, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 183 |
| Warren Water District* | Indianola, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 18,045 |
| Truro Waterworks | Truro, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 485 |
| Deer Hunters Run | Ankeny, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 58 |
| Saint Marys Water Corporation | Saint Marys, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 127 |
| New Virginia Water Supply | New Virginia, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 489 |
| Milo Public Water Supply | Milo, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 775 |
| City of Mount Calm | Mount Calm, TX | 2 of 5 | 3.12 ppb | 447 |
| Wayland Water Supply | Wayland, IA | 4 of 5 | 3.12 ppb | 966 |
| Municipal Authority Sunbury | Sunbury, PA | 1 of 13 | 2.92 ppb | 11,043 |
| Chaparral Water Company | Tucson, AZ | 1 of 8 | 2.75 ppb | 813 |
| Carson | Carson, WA | 2 of 4 | 2.75 ppb | 2,750 |
| Ainsworth Water Works | Ainsworth, IA | 5 of 5 | 2.68 ppb | 567 |
| Welsh Mountain Home | New Holland, PA | 6 of 8 | 2.60 ppb | 53 |
| Pond Creek* | Pond Creek, OK | 1 of 2 | 2.60 ppb | 982 |
| Sw Water Inc. | Pond Creek, OK | 1 of 2 | 2.60 ppb | 200 |
| Bluewater Acres Water Users Association | Thoreau, NM | 3 of 8 | 2.56 ppb | 307 |
| City of Lemoore | Lemoore, CA | 6 of 25 | 2.55 ppb | 24,945 |
| North Slope Borough - Wainwright | Barrow, AK | 8 of 11 | 2.55 ppb | 600 |
| Suddenview | Wa, WA | 1 of 3 | 2.53 ppb | 60 |
| Shady Acres Mobile Home Village | Zebulon, NC | 2 of 9 | 2.53 ppb | 115 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Ethylbenzene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Water District* | Indianola, IA | 2 of 2 | 3.20 ppb | 18,045 |
| Municipal Authority Sunbury | Sunbury, PA | 1 of 13 | 2.92 ppb | 11,043 |
| City of Lemoore | Lemoore, CA | 6 of 25 | 2.55 ppb | 24,945 |
| SNO PUD 1 - Lake Stevens* | Everett, WA | 1 of 3 | 2.53 ppb | 51,625 |
| City of Levelland | Levelland, TX | 3 of 16 | 2.35 ppb | 14,278 |
| Manville WSC* | Coupland, TX | 6 of 42 | 1.81 ppb | 26,253 |
| Round Lake | Round Lake, IL | 1 of 1 | 1.28 ppb | 18,536 |
| Cedar City Waterworks | Cedar City, UT | 4 of 21 | 1.15 ppb | 31,223 |
| West Sound Utility District #1 | Port Orchard, WA | 3 of 24 | 1.13 ppb | 19,117 |
| Lake Utility Services Inc North | Clermont, FL | 9 of 32 | 1.12 ppb | 21,518 |
| Northwest | Lakeland, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.978 ppb | 28,082 |
| University Water System | Iowa City, IA | 8 of 10 | 0.840 ppb | 26,684 |
| City of Cleburne | Cleburne, TX | 9 of 37 | 0.817 ppb | 30,573 |
| MS State University* | Mississippi State, MS | 1 of 4 | 0.795 ppb | 15,000 |
| Marinette Waterworks | Marinette, WI | 3 of 6 | 0.772 ppb | 10,968 |
| Wapello Rural Water Assoc.* | Ottumwa, IA | 1 of 2 | 0.750 ppb | 15,601 |
| City of Kyle | Kyle, TX | 7 of 16 | 0.731 ppb | 29,118 |
| Kaukauna Utilities | Kaukauna, WI | 4 of 9 | 0.476 ppb | 13,430 |
| City of Buckeye Sonora - Sundance | Buckeye, AZ | 1 of 12 | 0.475 ppb | 15,783 |
| Quail Valley Utility District | Missouri, TX | 3 of 20 | 0.425 ppb | 13,317 |
| Lake Arrowhead CSD | Lake Arrowhead, CA | 1 of 6 | 0.417 ppb | 12,424 |
| Kingsland Water Supply Corporation | Kingsland, TX | 4 of 16 | 0.400 ppb | 10,773 |
| Marion City Water Works* | Marion, IN | 1 of 2 | 0.400 ppb | 28,327 |
| Whitefish Bay Waterworks | Whitefish Bay, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.400 ppb | 14,272 |
| City of Kinston | Kinston, NC | 2 of 80 | 0.373 ppb | 27,475 |
| Lemont* | Lemont, IL | 1 of 17 | 0.365 ppb | 17,000 |
| City of Bay City | Bay City, TX | 6 of 34 | 0.356 ppb | 17,614 |
| Greendale Waterworks | Greendale, WI | 2 of 2 | 0.345 ppb | 14,046 |
| Porter SUD* | Porter, TX | 2 of 31 | 0.342 ppb | 15,892 |
| West Hwy 80 Ark Road WS | West Monroe, LA | 2 of 12 | 0.333 ppb | 13,386 |
| New Brighton | New Brighton, MN | 1 of 8 | 0.325 ppb | 22,787 |
| Larchmont Utilities | Savannah, GA | 5 of 41 | 0.311 ppb | 11,799 |
| Cypress Hill Municipal Utility District 1 | Houston, TX | 2 of 11 | 0.282 ppb | 10,068 |
| Ventnor City Water & Sewer Utility | Ventor City, NJ | 3 of 46 | 0.275 ppb | 22,150 |
| City of Jacksonville* | Jacksonville, TX | 4 of 34 | 0.274 ppb | 14,544 |
| City of Cedar Hill | Cedar Hill, TX | 1 of 5 | 0.268 ppb | 48,710 |
| Hanover Water Department | Hanover, MA | 1 of 15 | 0.267 ppb | 14,899 |
| City of Buda | Buda, TX | 7 of 27 | 0.244 ppb | 11,530 |
| City of Gulfport | Saucier, MS | 11 of 72 | 0.238 ppb | 72,935 |
| Hobbs Municipal Water Supply | Hobbs, NM | 2 of 20 | 0.225 ppb | 38,936 |
| Paw Blue Mountain Division | Norristown, PA | 2 of 13 | 0.215 ppb | 23,763 |
| Fort Carson Army Base | Fort Carson, CO | 3 of 40 | 0.203 ppb | 42,000 |
| Colorado Springs Utilities* | Colorado Springs, CO | 3 of 40 | 0.203 ppb | 450,461 |
| US Air Force Academy | Usaf Academy, CO | 3 of 40 | 0.203 ppb | 16,876 |
| Ravenna City PWS | Ravenna, OH | 1 of 7 | 0.203 ppb | 14,000 |
| Sheppard Air Force Base | Sheppard Afb, TX | 1 of 13 | 0.192 ppb | 19,500 |
| City of Wichita Falls* | Wichita Falls, TX | 1 of 13 | 0.192 ppb | 104,553 |
| Harris County MUD 165 | Houston, TX | 3 of 25 | 0.192 ppb | 17,763 |
| Green Valley SUD* | Marion, TX | 3 of 14 | 0.186 ppb | 32,651 |
| City of Dodge City | Dodge City, KS | 3 of 39 | 0.172 ppb | 27,329 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Ethylbenzene, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.