Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

City of Coeur D Alene

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that also damages the kidneys and other internal organs. Mercury enters drinking water from industrial pollution, mining wastes and coal-fired power plants.

 

15

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
2019ND110ND
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: 1.2 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1.2 ppb for mercury (inorganic) 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 inorganic mercury, established in 1991, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1970s and 1980s. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2019-05-23I204186ND
2019-05-23I204189ND
2019-05-23I204187ND
2019-05-29I204288ND
2019-05-29I204287ND
2019-05-29I204291ND
2019-06-03I204362ND
2019-06-03I204360ND
2019-06-03I204361ND
2019-06-03I204363ND
2019-09-05I208218ND
2022-04-27I240143ND
2022-04-27I240183ND
2022-05-02I240583ND
2022-08-10I244760ND