Vinyl chloride
Status: National drinking water standard exists
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.
2017-2019:
22
states detected
85
utilities detected
1.1 million
people served
19
states over health guideline
60
utilities over health guideline
347,000
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for vinyl chloride
Liver cancer
Harm to the liver
Change to the central nervous system
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
States reporting vinyl chloride in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Florida | 9 | 69,862 | 18 | 467,843 | |||
| New York | 8 | 10,167 | 15 | 269,567 | |||
| North Carolina | 9 | 88,107 | 9 | 88,107 | |||
| Minnesota | 1 | 49,050 | 2 | 50,793 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 3 | 50,189 | |||
| Illinois | 6 | 42,698 | 6 | 42,698 | |||
| Wisconsin | 1 | 11,900 | 3 | 38,645 | |||
| Utah | 1 | 33,000 | 1 | 33,000 | |||
| Massachusetts | 2 | 22,925 | 2 | 22,925 | |||
| Michigan | 1 | 828 | 2 | 15,043 | |||
| Iowa | 9 | 10,971 | 9 | 10,971 | |||
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8,375 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6,400 | |||
| Mississippi | 2 | 2,245 | 2 | 2,245 | |||
| Nebraska | 4 | 1,704 | 4 | 1,704 | |||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1,643 | 1 | 1,643 | |||
| Delaware | 1 | 600 | 1 | 600 | |||
| Arkansas | 1 | 360 | 1 | 360 | |||
| Georgia | 1 | 303 | 1 | 303 | |||
| Louisiana | 1 | 171 | 1 | 171 | |||
| New Jersey | 1 | 70 | 1 | 70 | |||
| South Carolina | 1 | 35 | 1 | 35 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce vinyl chloride
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of vinyl chloride, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo* | Kalamazoo, MI | 2 of 2 | 2.10 ppb | 192,992 |
| Parchment | Parchment, MI | 2 of 2 | 2.10 ppb | 3,174 |
| Pine Valley Plantation | Belchertown, MA | 3 of 3 | 1.51 ppb | 600 |
| Wild Willys Rv Park | Roswell, NM | 1 of 5 | 1.18 ppb | 106 |
| Pine Glen Mobile Home Park Llc, | Rincon, GA | 2 of 3 | 1.10 ppb | 303 |
| Charter Oak Water Supply | Charter Oak, IA | 1 of 2 | 0.850 ppb | 502 |
| Saint Louis Park | St. Louis Park, MN | 19 of 51 | 0.634 ppb | 47,221 |
| Redhill Water | Alma, AR | 3 of 12 | 0.612 ppb | 475 |
| Portsmouth Water Supply | Panama, IA | 2 of 3 | 0.533 ppb | 195 |
| Regional Water* | Avoca, IA | 2 of 3 | 0.533 ppb | 4,065 |
| Avoca Water Works | Avoca, IA | 2 of 3 | 0.533 ppb | 1,506 |
| Brayton Water System | Brayton, IA | 2 of 3 | 0.533 ppb | 128 |
| Exira Water Department | Exira, IA | 2 of 3 | 0.533 ppb | 840 |
| Crestview Estates S/d | Charlotte, NC | 1 of 7 | 0.529 ppb | 83 |
| Dickens Water Works | Spencer, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 185 |
| Ausable Heights Water System | Keeseville, NY | 1 of 1 | 0.500 ppb | 46 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 29 of 208 | 0.494 ppb | 19,000 |
| Rulo, Village of | Rulo, NE | 3 of 5 | 0.475 ppb | 172 |
| Coalton | Nokomis, IL | 2 of 33 | 0.424 ppb | 350 |
| Nokomis* | Nokomis, IL | 2 of 33 | 0.424 ppb | 2,370 |
| Hoosick Falls | Hoosick Falls, NY | 4 of 19 | 0.411 ppb | 4,925 |
| C S & I Water Association #1 | Port Gibson, MS | 3 of 6 | 0.402 ppb | 910 |
| Leflore County Rural Water District #3 | Whitesboro, OK | 4 of 18 | 0.383 ppb | 1,643 |
| Huxley Waterworks Department* | Huxley, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.270 ppb | 3,317 |
| New Horizons Of Huxley Llc | Huxley, IA | 1 of 1 | 0.270 ppb | 298 |
| Florida Pines Mobile Home Park | Venice, FL | 1 of 2 | 0.250 ppb | 280 |
| G & R Mobile Home Park Water System | Scott, LA | 2 of 8 | 0.240 ppb | 171 |
| Palm Lake Estates South | Riviera Bch, FL | 8 of 47 | 0.231 ppb | 700 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 8 of 47 | 0.231 ppb | 34,700 |
| Palm Lake Estates North | Riviera Beach, FL | 8 of 47 | 0.231 ppb | 480 |
| City of Kinston | Kinston, NC | 7 of 80 | 0.198 ppb | 27,475 |
| Coalby Domestic Water Company | Cedaredge, CO | 1 of 17 | 0.188 ppb | 239 |
| Richardson County Rural Water District 2* | Falls City, NE | 2 of 20 | 0.177 ppb | 900 |
| Salem, Village of | Falls City, NE | 2 of 20 | 0.177 ppb | 160 |
| Cedar Creek Mobile Home Park | Eastover, SC | 1 of 10 | 0.171 ppb | 35 |
| Indiantown Company | Indiantown, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 5,847 |
| St. Lucie Mobile Village | Indiantown, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.167 ppb | 750 |
| Burr Oak | Vicksburg, MI | 3 of 11 | 0.164 ppb | 828 |
| Smiths Crossing Water Association | Magee, MS | 1 of 5 | 0.153 ppb | 4,274 |
| Cape Windsor Community Association Inc. | Selbyvile, DE | 2 of 10 | 0.148 ppb | 600 |
| Wilmington Water Department | Wilmington, MA | 2 of 8 | 0.140 ppb | 22,325 |
| Hcpud/san Remo Subdivision | Lutz, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.130 ppb | 245 |
| Hcpud/cypress Cove Subdivision | Lutz, FL | 1 of 3 | 0.130 ppb | 67 |
| Gardeau Water District | Castile, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 60 |
| Silver Lake Institute - Castile Water District #1 | , NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 440 |
| Perry Village* | , NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 4,348 |
| Perry Center Water District | Perry, NY | 1 of 4 | 0.125 ppb | 150 |
| The Oaks | Porter, TX | 1 of 5 | 0.120 ppb | 48 |
| Lakeland | Adel, GA | 1 of 5 | 0.120 ppb | 3,049 |
| Garden Court Mutual | Port Orchard, WA | 1 of 8 | 0.113 ppb | 54 |
* 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 Vinyl chloride, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo* | Kalamazoo, MI | 2 of 2 | 2.10 ppb | 192,992 |
| Saint Louis Park | St. Louis Park, MN | 19 of 51 | 0.634 ppb | 47,221 |
| City of Stuart - Water Plant | Stuart, FL | 29 of 208 | 0.494 ppb | 19,000 |
| Riviera Beach Utility District* | Riviera Beach, FL | 8 of 47 | 0.231 ppb | 34,700 |
| City of Kinston | Kinston, NC | 7 of 80 | 0.198 ppb | 27,475 |
| Wilmington Water Department | Wilmington, MA | 2 of 8 | 0.140 ppb | 22,325 |
| Cedarburg L & W Commission | Cedarburg, WI | 35 of 136 | 0.101 ppb | 11,900 |
| Weirton Area Water Board* | Weirton, WV | 2 of 10 | 0.0960 ppb | 22,694 |
| Midvale City Water System | Midvale, UT | 4 of 65 | 0.0892 ppb | 33,000 |
| Grand Junction* | Grand Junction, CO | 1 of 14 | 0.0857 ppb | 26,000 |
| South-Central Service Area* | Lithia, FL | 2 of 12 | 0.0650 ppb | 421,362 |
| Edina | Edina, MN | 4 of 19 | 0.0611 ppb | 49,050 |
| Montgomery | Montgomery, IL | 5 of 56 | 0.0554 ppb | 28,160 |
| Hempstead | Hempstead, NY | 20 of 497 | 0.0541 ppb | 56,000 |
| Wayne Water Districts* | Goldsboro, NC | 1 of 116 | 0.0466 ppb | 32,426 |
| Miramar (East & West) Plants | Miramar, FL | 1 of 14 | 0.0279 ppb | 127,700 |
| Gateway Services District | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.0256 ppb | 12,717 |
| Lee County Utilities* | Fort Myers, FL | 2 of 18 | 0.0256 ppb | 251,502 |
| Sauk* | Sauk Village, IL | 1 of 70 | 0.0246 ppb | 11,000 |
| Niles | Sparta, MI | 1 of 26 | 0.0231 ppb | 14,215 |
| Craven County Water System* | New Bern, NC | 1 of 39 | 0.0205 ppb | 32,500 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 19 of 1,392 | 0.0166 ppb | 48,000 |
| Fitchburg Utility District 1 | Fitchburg, WI | 1 of 21 | 0.0143 ppb | 15,000 |
| Wallingford Water Department | Wallingford, CT | 1 of 35 | 0.0143 ppb | 37,267 |
| Collingswood Water Depar | Collingswood, NJ | 1 of 50 | 0.0129 ppb | 24,500 |
| Huber Heights Public Water System | Huber Heights, OH | 1 of 119 | 0.00672 ppb | 38,278 |
| City of Palm Bay | Palm Bay, FL | 1 of 77 | 0.00636 ppb | 121,160 |
| Grafton Waterworks | Grafton, WI | 3 of 145 | 0.00586 ppb | 11,745 |
| City of Newport* | Newport, RI | 1 of 50 | 0.00400 ppb | 42,000 |
| Portsmouth Water & Fire District | Portsmouth, RI | 1 of 50 | 0.00400 ppb | 16,864 |
| Water Authority of Western Nassau | New Hyde Park, NY | 1 of 622 | 0.00177 ppb | 120,000 |
| WA of Great Neck North | Great Neck, NY | 1 of 872 | 0.00126 ppb | 31,400 |
* 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 Vinyl chloride, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.