Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

City of Broussard Water System

NOTE: City of Broussard Water System purchases water from Lafayette Utilities Water System which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Lafayette Utilities Water 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.

 

56

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND140ND
2020ND10ND
2021ND10ND
2022ND60ND
2023ND20ND

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: City of Broussard Water System purchases water from Lafayette Utilities Water System which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Lafayette Utilities Water System.

Date Lab ID Result
2018-03-0535378308005ND
2018-03-0535378308001ND
2018-03-0535378308005ND
2018-03-0535378308004ND
2018-03-0535378308003ND
2018-03-0535378308002ND
2018-03-0535378308001ND
2018-03-0535378308002ND
2018-03-0535378308003ND
2018-03-0535378308004ND
2018-04-3035389627001ND
2018-04-3035389627001ND
2018-05-1435392629001ND
2018-05-1435392629001ND
2018-06-1935399735001ND
2018-06-1935399735001ND
2018-06-1935399735002ND
2018-06-1935399735003ND
2018-06-1935399735003ND
2018-06-1935399735002ND
2019-01-1435442609001ND
2019-01-1435442609002ND
2019-01-1435442609001ND
2019-01-1435442609002ND
2019-08-1235490056002ND
2019-08-1235490056004ND
2019-08-1235490056003ND
2019-08-1235490056002ND
2019-08-1235490056001ND
2019-08-1235490056005ND
2019-08-1235490056004ND
2019-08-1235490056003ND
2019-08-1235490056001ND
2019-08-1235490056005ND
2020-07-2035564847001ND
2020-07-2035564847003ND
2020-07-2035564847002ND
2021-02-0835610872005ND
2021-02-0835610872004ND
2021-02-0835610872003ND
2021-02-0835610872002ND
2021-02-0835610872001ND
2021-06-2135642603004ND
2021-06-2135642603005ND
2021-06-2135642603003ND
2021-06-2135642603002ND
2021-06-2135642603001ND
2022-05-2335720206001ND
2022-05-2335720206002ND
2022-05-2335720206003ND
2022-05-2335720206004ND
2022-05-2335720206005ND
2022-05-2335720206006ND
2023-05-2235801891004ND
2023-05-2235801891005ND
2023-05-2235801891006ND