Cyanide

City of Merced

Cyanide is a toxic chemical that causes central nervous system and thyroid toxicity. Water contamination is generally the result of metal mining and chemical industry waste, runoff from agriculture and road salts used for melting ice.

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	20	ND
2017	ND	1	ND
2018	N/A	0	N/A
2019	N/A	0	N/A

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 cyanide 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 the brain and nervous system.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 200 ppb

The legal limit for cyanide, established in 1992, was based on a 1955 toxicity study conducted in laboratory animals. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2016-05-10	1233-057-1600	ND
2016-09-01	9590-020-1120	ND
2016-09-01	9590-054-0846	ND
2016-09-01	9590-049-0945	ND
2016-09-01	9590-048-0910	ND
2016-09-01	9590-043-1235	ND
2016-09-01	9590-041-1020	ND
2016-09-01	9590-023-1430	ND
2016-09-01	9590-022-1335	ND
2016-09-01	9590-021-1450	ND
2016-09-01	9590-001-1205	ND
2016-09-01	9590-019-1055	ND
2016-09-01	9590-016-1030	ND
2016-09-01	9590-015-0810	ND
2016-09-01	9590-011-0901	ND
2016-09-01	9590-005-1340	ND
2016-09-01	9590-004-1240	ND
2016-09-01	9590-003-1255	ND
2016-09-01	9590-002-1400	ND
2016-12-01	9590-042-0854	ND
2017-03-09	9590-008-0840	ND