Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

Purcellville, Town of

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that also damages the kidneys and other internal organs. Mercury enters drinking water from industrial pollution, mining wastes and coal-fired power plants.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND20ND
2019ND30ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND60ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 1.2 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1.2 ppb for mercury (inorganic) 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 harm to internal organs.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 2 ppb

The legal limit for inorganic mercury, established in 1991, was based on toxicity studies conducted in laboratory animals in the 1970s and 1980s. This limit does not include any additional consideration of children’s health.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-02-27E180100341ND
2018-05-23E180303856ND
2019-03-21E190302939ND
2019-03-21E190302950ND
2019-05-29E190304845ND
2020-02-25E191203660ND
2020-05-20E200302299ND
2020-05-20E200302297ND
2020-06-16E200302293ND
2021-03-15E210100126ND
2021-05-17E210400644ND
2021-10-28E211003146ND
2022-04-11E220303685ND
2023-04-27E230305391ND
2023-04-27E230305400ND
2023-04-27E230305405ND
2023-04-27E230305417ND
2023-05-01E230305410ND
2023-11-01E230904711ND