The Indiana State Department of Health maintains a list of certified drinking water laboratories. In some circumstances, your county health department may be able to help you.

If your private well tests positive for the coal ash contaminants listed above, HEC would be interested in talking with you. Please contact Indra Frank at ifrank@hecweb.org.

Coal Ash ContaminantThresholdStandard UsedExamples of Human Health Impacts
Antimony0.006 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)-Heart and lung problems

-Stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and ulcers

Arsenic0.01 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)– Skin, liver, bladder, and lung cancer

– Neurological damage

– Abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, decreased production of blood cells

Barium2.0 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)-Gastrointestinal disturbances

-Numbness and muscular weakness

-Vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea

-Difficulty breathing, abnormal blood pressure

Beryllium0.004 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)-Acute beryllium disease (resembles pneumonia)

-Chronic beryllium disease (weakness, difficulty breathing, weight loss, heart disease)

Boron3.0 mg/LChild Health Advisory (CHA)– Developmental (fetal) and reproduction damage

– Harm to stomach, intestines, liver, kidney, and brain, which can eventually lead to death (when exposed to large amounts)

Cadmium0.005 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)– Kidney disease, lung damage, fragile bones

– Irritated stomach, vomiting, diarrhea

Chromium0.1 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)-Increased risk of lung and stomach cancer

-Breathing problems and nose ulcers

-Skin ulcers

Chromium, hexavalent0.035 ug/LUS EPA Tap Water Regional Screening Level (RSL) – Carginogenic
Cobalt0.006 mg/LUS EPA Tap Water Regional Screening Level (RSL)-Lung and heart damage

-Dermatitis

-Damaged cells and increased cancer risk

Fluoride4 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)-Neurological damage to children

 

Lithium0.04 mg/LUS EPA Tap Water Regional Screening Level (RSL)– Damage to kidneys and other organ systems

-Skin irritation, blisters (when contacting skin)

-Eye redness and pain (when contacting eyes)

-Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, weakness (when ingested)

Mercury0.002 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)– Permanent damage to the brain, kidneys, or developing fetus

– Damages brain functioning (irritability, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, memory problems)

– Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate

Molybdenum0.04 mg/LLifetime Health Advisory (LHA)– Possible joint pains, enlarged liver, gastrointestinal disorders

– Possible joint pains, back pains, headaches

Radium 226 and 228, combined5 pCi/L (picocurie per liter)Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)– Anemia

– Cataracts

– Broken teeth and cavities

– Bone, liver, and breast cancer

Selenium0.05 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)– Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

– Selenosis (hair loss, nail brittleness, neurological abnormalities)

Thallium0.002 mg/LFederal Drinking Water Standard (MCL)– Nervous system effects (such as numbness)

– Vomiting, diarrhea, temporary hair loss

– Damage to lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys