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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

City of Tucson

PCBs are synthetic chemicals banned in the U.S. since the 1970s because of their toxicity. PCBs contaminate water by leaching from landfills and hazardous waste clean-up sites. PCBs increase the risk of cancer. Read More.

Up until the late 1970s, PCBs were used widely as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment. Currently, PCBs are widely detected in the general population. They build up and are stored in fatty tissues and fluids such as breast milk, and can be passed on to fetuses and infants during pregnancy and breast-feeding. In human epidemiological studies, PCBs have been associated with an elevated risk of breast and prostate cancers. Infants and children with higher PCB exposures during development score lower on measures of neurological function, ranging from decreased IQ scores to� reduced hearing sensitivity. PCBs also affect hormones and damage the immune system.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

311

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
2014ND10ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016ND2170ND
2017ND30ND
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND900ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.09 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.09 ppb for PCBs 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) 0.5 ppb

The legal limit for PCBs, established in 1991, 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 PCB exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-05-07201405090245PND
2016-01-11201601120497PND
2016-01-11201601120501PND
2016-01-11201601120503PND
2016-01-12201601130583PND
2016-01-12201601130585PND
2016-01-12201601130587PND
2016-01-12201601130589PND
2016-01-12201601130591PND
2016-01-13201601140525PND
2016-01-13201601140527PND
2016-01-13201601140529PND
2016-01-13201601140531PND
2016-01-14201601200633PND
2016-01-14201601200650PND
2016-01-14201601200652PND
2016-01-14201601200655PND
2016-01-19201601210560PND
2016-01-19201601210577PND
2016-01-19201601210594PND
2016-01-19201601210596PND
2016-01-19201601210601PND
2016-01-20201601220050PND
2016-01-20201601220052PND
2016-01-20201601220054PND
2016-01-20201601220058PND
2016-01-2020160220056PND
2016-01-21201601260403PND
2016-01-21201601260405PND
2016-01-21201601260407PND
2016-01-21201601260409PND
2016-01-21201601260411PND
2016-01-25201601270686PND
2016-01-25201601270689PND
2016-01-25201601270691PND
2016-01-25201601270693PND
2016-01-25201601270696PND
2016-01-26201601280323PND
2016-01-26201601280325PND
2016-01-26201601280327PND
2016-01-26201601280329PND
2016-01-26201601280331PND
2016-01-27201601290325PND
2016-01-27201601290335PND
2016-01-27201601290347PND
2016-01-27201601290350PND
2016-01-28201602020389PND
2016-01-28201602020391PND
2016-01-28201602020393PND
2016-01-28201602020395PND
2016-01-28201602020468PND
2016-02-01201602030693PND
2016-02-01201602030695PND
2016-02-01201602030697PND
2016-02-02201602040362PND
2016-02-02201602040364PND
2016-02-02201602040366PND
2016-02-02201602040368PND
2016-02-02201602040370PND
2016-02-03201602050164PND
2016-02-03201602050166PND
2016-02-04201602090778PND
2016-02-04201602090780PND
2016-02-04201602090782PND
2016-02-04201602090784PND
2016-02-08201602100699PND
2016-02-08201602100702PND
2016-02-08201602100707PND
2016-02-09201602110490PND
2016-02-09201602110492PND
2016-02-09201602110494PND
2016-02-09201602110496PND
2016-02-10201602120207PND
2016-02-10201602120209PND
2016-02-10201602120211PND
2016-02-11201602170609PND
2016-02-11201602170834PND
2016-02-11201602170855PND
2016-02-11201602170857PND
2016-02-11201602170861PND
2016-02-16201602180558PND
2016-02-16201602180560PND
2016-02-17201602190297PND
2016-02-17201602190299PND
2016-02-18201602230669PND
2016-02-19201602230601PND
2016-02-19201602230603PND
2016-02-19201602230605PND
2016-02-23201602270248PND
2016-02-23201602270250PND
2016-02-23201602270252PND
2016-02-24201602270255PND
2016-02-24201602270257PND
2016-02-24201602270259PND
2016-02-25201603010761PND
2016-02-29201603020593PND
2016-02-29201603020594PND
2016-03-01201603030258PND
2016-03-02201603040297PND
2016-03-07201603090501PND
2016-03-10201603150105PND
2016-03-10201603150108PND
2016-04-07201604290167PND
2016-04-20201604220232PND
2016-04-27201604290170PND
2016-04-28201605030472PND
2016-05-052016051500253PND
2016-05-31201606020546PND
2016-05-31201606020548PND
2016-06-14201606160587PND
2016-06-16201606210150PND
2016-07-17201607200890PND
2016-07-18201607200892PND
2016-07-18201607200894PND
2016-07-18201607200898PND
2016-07-19201607220072PND
2016-07-19201607220074PND
2016-07-19201607220076PND
2016-07-19201607220078PND
2016-07-1920160722070PND
2016-07-20201607220304PND
2016-07-20201607220308PND
2016-07-20201607220310PND
2016-07-20201607220312PND
2016-07-21201607260659PND
2016-07-21201607260666PND
2016-07-21201607260668PND
2016-07-21201607260670PND
2016-07-25201607270551PND
2016-07-25201607270553PND
2016-07-25201607270559PND
2016-07-26201607280458PND
2016-07-26201607280462PND
2016-07-26201607280464PND
2016-07-26201607280466PND
2016-07-26201607280468PND
2016-07-27201607290322PND
2016-07-27201607290324PND
2016-07-27201607290326PND
2016-07-27201607290328PND
2016-07-28201608020259PND
2016-07-28201608020261PND
2016-07-28201608020263PND
2016-07-28201608020266PND
2016-07-28201608020268PND
2016-08-01201608030578PND
2016-08-01201608030580PND
2016-08-01201608030582PND
2016-08-01201608030584PND
2016-08-01201608030621PND
2016-08-02201608040333PND
2016-08-02201608040335PND
2016-08-02201608040337ND
2016-08-02201608040339PND
2016-08-02201608040341PND
2016-08-03201608050584PND
2016-08-03201608050586PND
2016-08-03201608050588PND
2016-08-03201608050590PND
2016-08-03201608050592PND
2016-08-04201608090789PND
2016-08-04201608090791PND
2016-08-04201608090793PND
2016-08-04201608090795PND
2016-08-08201608100564PND
2016-08-08201608100566PND
2016-08-08201608100568ND
2016-08-08201608100570PND
2016-08-08201608100572PND
2016-08-09201608120558PND
2016-08-09201608120561PND
2016-08-09201608120563PND
2016-08-09201608120565PND
2016-08-10201608120579PND
2016-08-10201608120581PND
2016-08-15201608170607PND
2016-08-15201608170609PND
2016-08-15201608170611PND
2016-08-15201608170613PND
2016-08-16201608180562PND
2016-08-16201608180566PND
2016-08-16201608180568PND
2016-08-17201608190275PND
2016-08-17201608190277PND
2016-08-17201608190279PND
2016-08-18201608230773PND
2016-08-18201608230787PND
2016-08-18201608230789PND
2016-08-18201608230791PND
2016-08-22201608240663PND
2016-08-22201608240665PND
2016-08-22201608240667PND
2016-08-22201608240669PND
2016-08-23201608250611PND
2016-08-23201608250613PND
2016-08-24201608260338PND
2016-08-25201608300369PND
2016-08-25201608300371PND
2016-08-30201609010544PND
2016-08-30201609010546PND
2016-08-30201609010548PND
2016-08-30201609010550PND
2016-08-31201609020153PND
2016-08-31201609020155PND
2016-08-31201609020157PND
2016-09-01201609070775PND
2016-09-01201609070777PND
2016-10-04201610060221PND
2016-10-04201610060225PND
2016-10-04201610060227PND
2016-10-05201610070308PND
2016-10-05201610070310PND
2016-10-05201610070312PND
2016-10-11201610130456PND
2016-10-12201610140222PND
2016-10-20201610250279PND
2016-10-20201610250283PND
2016-11-03201611080513PND
2017-02-23201702240275PND
2017-04-27201704280223PND
2017-09-13201709141084SND
2019-03-19201903210355PND
2019-04-01L190499-05-18123ND
2019-04-01L190499-06-18123ND
2019-04-11L190512-02-18123ND
2019-04-11L190512-03-18123ND
2019-04-11L190512-04-18123ND
2019-04-15L190597-01-18123ND
2019-04-15L190597-02-18123ND
2019-04-15L190597-03-18123ND
2019-04-15L190597-04-18123ND
2019-04-17L190610-01-18123ND
2019-04-17L190610-03-18123ND
2019-04-18L190624-01-18123ND
2019-04-18L190624-02-18123ND
2019-04-18L190624-03-18123ND
2019-04-23L190640-01-18133ND
2019-04-23L190640-02-18133ND
2019-04-23L190640-03-18133ND
2019-04-23L190640-04-18133ND
2019-04-24L190645-01-18133ND
2019-04-24L190645-02-18133ND
2019-04-24L190645-03-18133ND
2019-04-25L190648-01-18123ND
2019-04-25L190648-02-18123ND
2019-04-25L190648-03-18123ND
2019-04-30L190670-01-18123ND
2019-04-30L190670-03-18123ND
2019-05-01L190678-02-18123ND
2019-05-01L190678-03-18123ND
2019-05-01L190678-04-18123ND
2019-05-02L190690-02-18123ND
2019-05-02L190690-03-18123ND
2019-05-06L190704-03-18123ND
2019-05-07L190712-03-18123ND
2019-05-13L190741-01-06260ND
2019-05-13L190741-02-06260ND
2019-05-14L190748-01-06260ND
2019-05-14L190748-02-06260ND
2019-05-15L190761-03-06260ND
2019-05-20L190783-02-06260ND
2019-05-20L190783-03-06260ND
2019-05-28L190813-01-06260ND
2019-06-11L190893-01-07081ND
2019-06-11L190893-02-07081ND
2019-06-12L190903-01-07081ND
2019-09-10L191409-01-10031ND
2019-09-11L191425-03-10031ND
2019-10-08L191568-01-01021ND
2019-10-08L191568-02-01021ND
2019-10-09L191559-01-01021ND
2019-10-09L191559-02-01021ND
2019-10-09L191559-03-01021ND
2019-10-10L191586-01-01030ND
2019-10-15L191605-01-01021ND
2019-10-15L191605-02-01021ND
2019-10-15L191605-03-01021ND
2019-10-15L191610-01-01021ND
2019-10-17L191619-01-01021ND
2019-10-17L191619-02-01021ND
2019-10-23L191646-01-01021ND
2019-10-23L191646-02-01021ND
2019-10-23L191646-03-01021ND
2019-10-29L191688-01-01021ND
2019-10-29L191688-02-01021ND
2019-11-01L191715-01-01030ND
2019-11-01L191715-02-01030ND
2019-11-01L191715-03-01030ND
2019-11-01L191720-01-01030ND
2019-11-01L191720-03-01030ND
2019-11-04L191722-01-01021ND
2019-11-04L191722-02-01021ND
2019-11-04L191722-03-01021ND
2019-11-05L191727-01-01030ND
2019-11-05L191727-02-01030ND
2019-11-05L191727-03-01030ND
2019-11-06L191741-02-01030ND
2019-11-07L191647-01-01021ND
2019-11-07L191749-01-01030ND
2019-11-07L191749-02-01030ND
2019-11-08L191758-01-01030ND
2019-11-12L191765-01-01030ND
2019-11-12L191765-02-01030ND
2019-11-13L191783-01-01030ND
2019-11-13L191783-03-01030ND
2019-11-19L191822-02-01030ND
2019-11-19L191822-03-01030ND
2019-11-25L191849-01-01021ND
2019-12-05L191911-01-01021ND
2019-12-05L191912-01-01021ND
2019-12-12L191971-01-01091ND