Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Bayou La Batre Utilities

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND50ND
2019ND10ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND50ND
2023ND50ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-01-29180129039-2ND
2018-01-29180129039-1ND
2018-05-07180509028-1ND
2018-05-07180509028-2ND
2018-06-13180614041-1SND
2019-11-2120131445002_ISOCND
2020-03-1620146809ND
2020-04-2720152054001ND
2020-04-2720152054001AND
2020-07-1420162712ND
2020-10-2220176839001_ISOCND
2021-02-2220191200001_ISOCND
2021-04-2720197805001ND
2021-07-2220215372001ND
2021-11-1820226391001_ISOCND
2022-03-0720236841001_ISOCND
2022-03-0720236842001_ISOCND
2022-05-2520244818002_ISOCND
2022-09-1220255358001_ISOCND
2022-10-1920258987001_ISOCND
2023-02-0720269193001_ISOCND
2023-02-1520269913001_ISOCND
2023-04-1120274431001_ISOCND
2023-07-1320282549001_ISOCND
2023-10-1720293432001_ISOCND