. United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-003aa-C
October 1995
«EPA
National Primary
Water Regulations
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public
or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if
found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
Met:
ZERO •
0.5 PPB
WHAT ARE
PCBs
AND HOW IS IT USED?
WHY ARE PCBs
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of organic chemicals which can
be odorless or mildly aromatic solids or oily liquids. They were formerly used in the
USA as hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, adhesives, fire retardants, way extenders,
de-dusting agents, pesticide extenders, inks, lubricants, cutting oils, in heat
transfer systems, carbonless reproducing paper.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work.
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for PCBs has been set at zero because EPA believes this level of
protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible,
considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants
using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 0.5 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA believes,
given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level
to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove
this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensur-
ing these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking
Water Regulatipns. All public water supplies must abide by these
regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found PCBs to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: acne-like
eruptions and pigmentation of the skin; hearing and vision prob-
lems; spasms. .
Long-term: PCBs has the potential to cause the following
effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: effects
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS: -
PCB
CHLORINATED
DIPHENYL
CLOPHEN
KANECHLOR
AROCLOR
FENCLOR
CHLOREXTOL
DYKANOL
INERTEEN
MONTER
PYRALENE
SANTOTHERM
SOVOL
THERMINOL
NOFLAMOL
October 1995
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
RELEASES To WATER AND LAND: similarto acute poisonings; imtation of nose,
1987 ro 1993 throat and gastrointestinal tracts; changes
‘in liver function; cancer.
Water Land
Production of PCBs hasdecreased dras- How MUCH PCBs
TOTALS (in pounds) 784 73,632
tically:fromover86millionlbs. in 1970to35 ARE PRODUCED AND
Top Five states . ‘RELEASED TO. THE
CA 58,178 million lbs in I 977 Since EPA banned most ENVIRONMENT?
NJ 0 13,188 uses of PCBs in 1979, current releases are
KY 250 750
WA 998 due mainly to the cycling of this persistent
TN 255 . 251 contaminant from soil to air to soil again.
PCBs are also currently released from land-
Major Industries
Non-ferrous wire 0 58.178 fills, incineration of municipal refuse and
Steel pipe/tubing 0 13,183
Pulp mills 0 998 sewage sludge, and improper (or illegal)
_____________________________ disposal of PCB materials, such as waste
transform?r fluid, to open areas.
From 1987 to 1993, according toP’ EPA’s Toxic Chemical Release Inventory,
PCB releases to land and water totalled over 74,000 lbs. The bulk of these
releases occurred in 1990 and were primarily from non-ferrous wire drawing and
insulating industries, The largest releases occurred in California.
PCBs are very persistent in soil and water, with no known break down. WHAT HAPPENS TO
processes other than slow degradation by microbes. They adhere to soils or PCBs
evaporate, and so will not usually leach to ground water. PCB-contaminated WHEN RELEASED TO THE
sediments in lakes or rivers can slowly release PCB back into water, from which ENVIRONMENT?
it eventually evaporates. . .
• The regulation for PCB5 became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, How ii u
PCBs
EPA required your Water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months for one BE DETECTED IN AND
year and analyze them to find out if PCBs are present above some lowest. REMOVED FROM
detectable level. If it is present above this level, which differs for each type of PCB, M DRINKING WATER?
the system must continue to monitor this contaminant.
If contan inant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of PCBs so that it is consistently
below that level. The following treatment methods have beenapproved by EPA
for removing PCBs: Granular activated charcoal.
How wu. I pcjvów IF
If the levels of PCBs exceed the MCL, 0.5 ppb, the system must notify the public PCBs ARE IN MY
via newspapers, radio, Wand other means. Additional actions, such as providing DRINKING WATER?
alternative drinkiAg water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to
public health.
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a
about their drinking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
to protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking For help in locating these agencies or for information or’
water. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern- drinking water in general, call,:
ment listirgs are a good starting point. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
Your local water supplier can giveyou a list of the For additional information on the uses and releases of
chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how chemicals in your state, contact the:
your water is treated. .. Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202
October 1995 - Consumer Version Page 2 —
------- |