Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Phoenix Village
NOTE: Phoenix Village purchases water from Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA).
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2016 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
2017 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2018 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
2019 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
ppb = parts per billion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
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: Phoenix Village purchases water from Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA).
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-01-15 | 1Q2014 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2014-04-09 | 2Q2014 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2014-07-24 | 3Q2014 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2014-10-15 | 4Q2014 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2015-01-20 | 1Q2015 SOC OCWA | ND |
2015-04-20 | 2Q2015 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2015-10-15 | 4Q2015 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2016-01-11 | 1Q2016 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2016-04-11 | 2Q2016 SOC OCWA | ND |
2016-07-21 | 3Q2016 SOC OCWA | ND |
2016-10-28 | 4Q2016 SOC OCWA | ND |
2017-01-20 | 1Q2017 SOC OCWA- | ND |
2017-09-12 | 3Q2017 SOC OCWA- | ND |
2018-03-13 | 1Q2018 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2018-03-14 | 1Q2018 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2018-09-25 | 3Q2018 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2018-09-26 | 3Q2018 SOCS OCWA | ND |
2019-03-12 | 1Q2019 SOC OCWA- | ND |
2019-03-13 | 1Q2019 SOC OCWA- | ND |
2019-09-11 | 3Q2019 SOC OCWA- | ND |
2019-09-11 | 3Q2019 SOC OCWA- | ND |