Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Thallium

Lee County Criminal Justice Center

Thalium is a naturally occurring metal released into the environment from metal smelting and coal burning. Exposure to too much thalium can cause hair loss, liver damage, reduced sperm motility and nervous system impairment.

 

9

Samples

1

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

4

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
20213.30 ppb113.30 ppb
20220.600 ppb31ND - 1.80 ppb
20230.650 ppb42ND - 1.40 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for thallium 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 internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 2 ppb

The legal limit for thallium, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-09-17AK01314ND
2021-05-26AK759673.30 ppb
2022-04-20AK99442ND
2022-07-13AL05766ND
2022-10-26AL191451.80 ppb
2023-01-18AL23860ND
2023-04-04AL287191.40 ppb
2023-07-06AL35698ND
2023-10-03AL463491.20 ppb