Bee Sharper Puts the Numbers of Water Treatment into Context

Editor’s Note. Water contaminants like lead and arsenic are measured in parts per billion. To put these tiny amounts into context, here’s a BB Sharper comparison.

Year it was one billion seconds ago: 1959.

Year it was one billion minutes ago: c. AD 110.

Year it was one billion hours ago: BC 110,000.

Year it was one billion days ago: BC 2,640.000.

Parts per million represented by one drop in a bathtub full of water — 2.

Parts per million represented by one second in 12.5 days — 1.

Number of micrograms per litre (μg/L) represented by one part per billion — 1.

Number of micrograms per litre represented by one drop in 250 bathtubs full of water — 1.

Number of parts per billion represented by one second in 32 years — 1.