Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

University of Connecticut - Main Campus

NOTE: University of Connecticut - Main Campus purchases water from Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System.

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.

 

21

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND30ND
2019ND40ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
2022ND40ND
2023N/A00N/A

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

NOTE: University of Connecticut - Main Campus purchases water from Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Connecticut Water Company - Northern Region-Western System.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-31BZ82950SOC2ND
2018-06-28CA80715SOC2ND
2018-07-26CA99050ND
2019-01-09SOC 200518249ND
2019-03-11SOC 200524185ND
2019-03-11200524185-SOCND
2022-01-31CK26558ND
2022-02-28CK76167ND
2022-04-18CL11075ND
2022-08-26CM16197ND
2022-08-26CM16200ND
2022-09-07CM25593ND
2022-09-08CM25670ND
2022-09-20CM37292ND
2022-09-20CM37296ND
2022-10-04CM49624ND
2022-10-04CM49621ND
2022-10-06CM51510ND
2022-10-06CM51504ND
2022-10-06CM50872ND
2022-11-03CM76536ND