Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

The Oaks Water Supply Corporation

NOTE: The Oaks Water Supply Corporation purchases water from San Antonio Water System which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by San Antonio 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.

 

44

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
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND110ND
2022ND40ND
2023ND10ND

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: The Oaks Water Supply Corporation purchases water from San Antonio Water System which is required to test for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs). Sample information shown below was taken by San Antonio Water System.

Date Lab ID Result
2021-10-05Q2127463001ND
2021-11-29Q2132941001ND
2021-11-29Q2132941002ND
2021-11-29Q2132941003ND
2021-11-29Q2132941004ND
2021-11-30Q2133098001ND
2021-11-30Q2133098002ND
2021-11-30Q2133098003ND
2021-11-30Q2133098004ND
2021-12-01Q2133203001ND
2021-12-01Q2133203002ND
2022-01-11Q2200963002ND
2022-01-11Q2200963001ND
2022-01-13Q2201510001ND
2022-04-14AF93442ND
2022-06-27AG02437ND
2022-06-27AG02438ND
2022-07-06AG03553ND
2022-10-24AG18145ND
2022-10-24AG18147ND
2022-10-24AG18148ND
2022-10-24AG18150ND
2022-10-25AG18409ND
2022-10-25AG18411ND
2022-10-25AG18410ND
2022-12-07AG21183ND
2022-12-07AG21184ND
2022-12-07AG21185ND
2022-12-07AG21186ND
2022-12-21AG22647ND
2022-12-21AG22648ND
2023-02-22AG30064ND
2023-04-05AG35688ND
2023-05-08AG39604ND
2023-07-11AG47968ND
2023-07-12AG48312ND
2023-10-04AG58482ND
2023-10-31AG61787ND
2023-10-31AG61788ND
2023-11-01AG62046ND
2023-11-15AG63862ND
2023-12-18AG66911ND
2023-12-18AG66917ND
2023-12-19AG67087ND