Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

City of Pocatello

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.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019ND160ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
2022ND10ND
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
2018-05-02II80502301ND
2019-10-08II91008801ND
2019-10-08II91009208ND
2019-10-08II91009207ND
2019-10-08II91009206ND
2019-10-08II91009205ND
2019-10-08II91009204ND
2019-10-08II91009203ND
2019-10-08II91009202ND
2019-10-08II91009201ND
2019-10-08II91008808ND
2019-10-08II91008807ND
2019-10-08II91008806ND
2019-10-08II91008805ND
2019-10-08II91008804ND
2019-10-08II91008803ND
2019-10-08II91008802ND
2022-10-12II21012902ND