Interpreting Your Water Test Report

Authors: Blake Ross, Extension Specialist, Agricultural Engineering, and Kathleen Parrott, Extension Specialist, Housing.

Publication Number 356-489, April 1998

Table 4. Standards, Sources, and Potential Health Effects of Common Regulated Contaminants

Contaminant Acceptable Limit Sources/Uses Potential Health Effects at High Concentration

Atrazine 3 ppb Used as a herbicide;
surface or groundwater
contamination from
agricultural runoff or leaching Heart and Liver damage

Benzene 5 ppb Gasoline additive; usually from accidental oil spills, industrial uses, or landfills Blood disorders, like aplasticaremia, immune system depression, acute exposure affects central nervous sytem causing dizziness, headaches, long-term exposure increases cancer risks

Fluorides 4.0 mg/L Additive in treatment process; also used in manufacturing processes and insecticides Mottling of teeth and bones

Lead 15 ppb Used in batteries; lead gasolinesand pipe solder; may be leached from brass faucets, lead caulking, lead pipes and lead soldered joints Nervous disorders and mental impairment especially in fetuses, infants, and young children; kidney damage; blood disorders and hypertension; low birth weights

Nitrates 10 mg/L
nitrate-N Soil by-product of agricultural fertilization; human and animal waste leaching to groundwater Methemoglobinemia (blue baby disease) in infants (birth-6 months); low health threat to children and adults

Radon 300 pCi/L Naturally-occurring gas formed from uranium decay can seep into well water from surrounding rocks and be released in the air as it leaves the faucet Breathing gas increases chances of lung cancer; may increase risk of stomach, colon, and bladder cancers

Trihalomethanes 0.100 mg/L Results from residual chlorine in treated water that combines with organic matter in water Cancer; heart, lung, kidney, and liver damage

Contaminant	Acceptable Limit	Sources/Uses	Potential Health Effects at High Concentration
Atrazine	3 ppb	Used as a herbicide; surface or groundwater contamination from agricultural runoff or leaching	Heart and Liver damage
Benzene	5 ppb	Gasoline additive; usually from accidental oil spills, industrial uses, or landfills	Blood disorders, like aplasticaremia, immune system depression, acute exposure affects central nervous sytem causing dizziness, headaches, long-term exposure increases cancer risks
Fluorides	4.0 mg/L	Additive in treatment process; also used in manufacturing processes and insecticides	Mottling of teeth and bones
Lead	15 ppb	Used in batteries; lead gasolinesand pipe solder; may be leached from brass faucets, lead caulking, lead pipes and lead soldered joints	Nervous disorders and mental impairment especially in fetuses, infants, and young children; kidney damage; blood disorders and hypertension; low birth weights
Nitrates	10 mg/L nitrate-N	Soil by-product of agricultural fertilization; human and animal waste leaching to groundwater	Methemoglobinemia (blue baby disease) in infants (birth-6 months); low health threat to children and adults
Radon	300 pCi/L	Naturally-occurring gas formed from uranium decay can seep into well water from surrounding rocks and be released in the air as it leaves the faucet	Breathing gas increases chances of lung cancer; may increase risk of stomach, colon, and bladder cancers
Trihalomethanes	0.100 mg/L	Results from residual chlorine in treated water that combines with organic matter in water	Cancer; heart, lung, kidney, and liver damage

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