Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Cecilia Water Corporation

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.

 

21

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
2019ND60ND
2020ND50ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND30ND
2023ND30ND

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
2019-02-1835449808002ND
2019-02-1835449808003ND
2019-02-1835449808001ND
2019-02-1835449808002ND
2019-02-1835449808003ND
2019-02-1835449808001ND
2020-03-3035540639001ND
2020-09-2835581253002ND
2020-09-2835581253003ND
2020-12-0735597474004ND
2020-12-0735597474003ND
2021-02-0135608904003ND
2021-02-0135608904004ND
2021-05-0335630992003ND
2021-05-0335630992004ND
2022-01-3135694190001ND
2022-01-3135694190002ND
2022-01-3135694190003ND
2023-02-1335779756009ND
2023-11-0635840310001ND
2023-11-0635840310002ND