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These tests can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. For example: a PCB blood test may cost about $100, and a Dioxin blood test may cost $400-500. (Your doctor may add additional fees.)

When you get your results back, it’s important to remember that each of us is different genetically, so we each have unique responses to chemical exposures. You may be less susceptible to a PCB exposure than your neighbor, even if you have exactly the same PCB level in your bodies. There are no hard rules defining what a given level of PCBs will do to you or your children.

It’s difficult to prove that a PCB chemical exposure has caused a specific health effect in an individual. Most PCB human studies report statistical increases in health effects which are already present to some extent in a population of people. For example, each of us has a one-in-three chance of developing cancer due to all causes. PCBs may increase your risk statistically, but you may not be able to prove that your personal case of cancer was caused by PCBs.

Many tests are also available for a wide variety of chemicals and pathogens in drinking water and soil. This could help you clean-up or avoid a PCB exposure, or the test may reassure you by showing little or no contamination. It’s very important to require a low level of detection, to make sure the lab doesn’t miss anything significant. PCB water tests cost about $100 and mercury tests are about $35. The laboratories will generally mail you a special kit to ensure that you take a sterile, proper sample. Then you mail it in or drop it off.

Links to More Information

Environmental Health Division --- Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene

Organic Chemistry Unit (includes PCBs testing) --- Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene

Frequently Asked Questions --- Drinking Water Tests (for private well owners only) --- Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene

Drinking and Groundwater --- Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

Frequently Asked Questions about Water Quality and Contamination --- Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (See "testing" section, then "certified laboratories")

• Medtox Scientific Inc. --- St. Paul, Minnesota --- PCB, mercury and Dioxin tests on human blood and tissue, but only through doctors. Tollfree: 800-832-3244 --- http://www.medtox.com/

• U.S. Oil Co. Inc., Analytical Lab Division ---424 S. Washington, Kimberly, Wisconsin --- Wide variety of tests. Water and soil samples for PCBs, mercury and other chemicals. PCB water tests cost about $100 and mercury tests are about $35.   No human blood or tissue tests. Tollfree: 800-490-4902 ---  http://www.usoil.com (see Analytical Lab division) 

• Badger Laboratories --- 501 West Bell Street, Neenah, Wisconsin --- Wide variety of tests for 200 different chemicals. . PCB water tests cost about $100 and mercury tests are about $35.  No human blood or tissue tests. Tollfree: 800-776-7196 --- http://www.badgerlabs.com

• Clean Water Testing --- 500 West Franklin, Appleton, Wisconsin --- Will collect PCB and mercury samples, but will send them to other labs for analysis.  No human blood or tissue tests. Phone: (920) 733-7590 --- http://www.waterlab.com

• Robert E. Lee and Associates --- 2825 S. Webster Ave. Green Bay --- Wide variety of tests. A PCB water or soil sample would be $165.  No human blood or tissue tests. Tollfree: 800-775-8893 --- http://www.releeinc.com/Services/Lab/lab.htm