Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Sharon Water Supply 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.

 

64

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND100ND
2019ND150ND
2020ND110ND
2021ND100ND
2022ND90ND
2023ND90ND

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
2018-02-23Q1807827001ND
2018-03-13Q1810062017ND
2018-03-13Q1810062022ND
2018-03-13Q1810062021ND
2018-03-13Q1810062019ND
2018-03-13Q1810062018ND
2018-03-13Q1810062020ND
2018-05-15Q1819684001ND
2018-08-23Q1833888001ND
2018-12-05Q1849613001ND
2019-03-20Q1911547001ND
2019-03-20Q1911547006ND
2019-06-06Q1932969036ND
2019-06-06Q1932969037ND
2019-06-06Q1932969019ND
2019-06-06Q1932969018ND
2019-06-06Q1932969016ND
2019-06-06Q1932969015ND
2019-06-06Q1932969014ND
2019-06-06Q1932969017ND
2019-08-27Q1959747001ND
2019-08-27Q1959747006ND
2019-08-27Q1959747011ND
2019-10-30Q1974573010ND
2019-10-30Q1974573009ND
2020-01-21Q2002254013ND
2020-01-21Q2002254014ND
2020-01-21Q2002254015ND
2020-04-08Q2014338005ND
2020-09-28Q2038315001ND
2020-10-21Q2041036037ND
2020-10-21Q2041036036ND
2020-10-21Q2041036034ND
2020-10-21Q2041036033ND
2020-10-21Q2041036013ND
2020-10-21Q2041036035ND
2021-03-29Q2107862001ND
2021-06-14Q2115406001ND
2021-09-22Q2126011001ND
2021-11-23Q2132764001ND
2021-11-23Q2132764002ND
2021-11-23Q2132764003ND
2021-11-23Q2132764004ND
2021-11-23Q2132764005ND
2021-11-23Q2132764006ND
2021-11-23Q2132764007ND
2022-03-09Q2208229001ND
2022-05-31Q2215344003ND
2022-09-20Q2228039001ND
2022-10-20Q2231930002ND
2022-10-20Q2231930017ND
2022-10-20Q2231930018ND
2022-10-20Q2231930019ND
2022-10-20Q2231930020ND
2022-10-20Q2231930021ND
2023-01-11Q2301806004ND
2023-04-13Q2313727001ND
2023-08-15Q2334031010ND
2023-08-15Q2334031011ND
2023-08-15Q2334031012ND
2023-10-25Q2346021005ND
2023-10-25Q2346021016ND
2023-10-25Q2346021017ND
2023-10-25Q2346021018ND