Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Mercury (inorganic)

Altoona Waterworks

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.

 

14

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
2020ND60ND
2021N/A00N/A
2022N/A00N/A
20230.0225 ppb81ND - 0.180 ppb

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
2020-06-161193790ND
2020-06-161193791ND
2020-06-161193786ND
2020-06-161193788ND
2020-06-161193789ND
2020-06-161193787ND
2023-01-25CB00795-010.180 ppb
2023-01-26CB00861-01ND
2023-07-31CB08782-04ND
2023-07-31CB08782-07ND
2023-07-31CB08782-10ND
2023-07-31CB08782-01ND
2023-08-01CB08877-01ND
2023-08-01CB08877-04ND