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 Contaminant | Threshold | Standard Used | Examples of Human Health Impacts |
Antimony | 0.006 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | -Heart and lung problems -Stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and ulcers |
Arsenic | 0.01 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | – Skin, liver, bladder, and lung cancer – Neurological damage – Abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, decreased production of blood cells |
Barium | 2.0 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | -Gastrointestinal disturbances -Numbness and muscular weakness -Vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea -Difficulty breathing, abnormal blood pressure |
Beryllium | 0.004 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | -Acute beryllium disease (resembles pneumonia) -Chronic beryllium disease (weakness, difficulty breathing, weight loss, heart disease) |
Boron | 3.0 mg/L | Child 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) |
Cadmium | 0.005 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | – Kidney disease, lung damage, fragile bones – Irritated stomach, vomiting, diarrhea |
Chromium | 0.1 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | -Increased risk of lung and stomach cancer -Breathing problems and nose ulcers -Skin ulcers |
Chromium, hexavalent | 0.035 ug/L | US EPA Tap Water Regional Screening Level (RSL) | – Carginogenic |
Cobalt | 0.006 mg/L | US EPA Tap Water Regional Screening Level (RSL) | -Lung and heart damage -Dermatitis -Damaged cells and increased cancer risk |
Fluoride | 4 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | -Neurological damage to children
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Lithium | 0.04 mg/L | US 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) |
Mercury | 0.002 mg/L | Federal 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 |
Molybdenum | 0.04 mg/L | Lifetime Health Advisory (LHA) | – Possible joint pains, enlarged liver, gastrointestinal disorders – Possible joint pains, back pains, headaches |
Radium 226 and 228, combined | 5 pCi/L (picocurie per liter) | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | – Anemia – Cataracts – Broken teeth and cavities – Bone, liver, and breast cancer |
Selenium | 0.05 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | – Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea – Selenosis (hair loss, nail brittleness, neurological abnormalities) |
Thallium | 0.002 mg/L | Federal Drinking Water Standard (MCL) | – Nervous system effects (such as numbness) – Vomiting, diarrhea, temporary hair loss – Damage to lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys |