Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Beauregard Water Works District #3

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.

 

44

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND220ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND110ND
2022N/A00N/A
2023ND110ND

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
2018-02-2735377534001ND
2018-02-2735377534001ND
2018-03-1935381349005ND
2018-03-1935381349004ND
2018-03-1935381349001ND
2018-03-1935381349002ND
2018-03-1935381349003ND
2018-03-1935381349004ND
2018-03-1935381349005ND
2018-03-1935381349003ND
2018-03-1935381349002ND
2018-03-1935381349001ND
2018-04-1635387317002ND
2018-04-1635387317001ND
2018-04-1635387317005ND
2018-04-1635387317003ND
2018-04-1635387317002ND
2018-04-1635387317001ND
2018-04-1635387317005ND
2018-04-1635387317004ND
2018-04-1635387317003ND
2018-04-1635387317004ND
2021-02-0235609370003ND
2021-02-0235609370002ND
2021-02-0235609370001ND
2021-02-0235609370004ND
2021-03-1635619951002ND
2021-03-1635619951003ND
2021-03-1635619951004ND
2021-03-1635619951005ND
2021-03-1635619951001ND
2021-04-2735629422001ND
2021-04-2735629422002ND
2023-07-2435815844001ND
2023-07-2435815844002ND
2023-07-2435815844003ND
2023-07-2435815844004ND
2023-07-2435815844005ND
2023-08-0735819580001ND
2023-08-0735819580002ND
2023-08-0735819580003ND
2023-08-0735819580004ND
2023-08-0735819580005ND
2023-08-0735819580006ND