Safe Drinking Water: Possible Contaminants

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Aisha Ikramuddin

Healthy Child Healthy World

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Learn more about how to protect against water contaminents.

The following is a list of substances that can contaminate water:

Pathogens:

A number of harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites can enter the drinking water supply from human sewage, animal feces (from both wild and farm animals) or rivers, lakes and streams. Water-borne illnesses include hepatitis (A, B, or C), giardiasis and Legionnaire’s disease. Pathogens can cause higher miscarriage rates among pregnant women and also affect those with lowered immune systems, such as children, the elderly, AIDS patients and people undergoing cancer therapy.

Heavy Metals:

Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, exist in nature, but their industrial use and subsequent disposal in landfills and through incineration has increased levels in water.

They can cross the placenta and cause neurological and reproductive damage to developing babies and children. Their presence in water has been regulated to some degree under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but the standards may be insufficient

Of water-borne metal contaminants, lead is the most serious. According to the EPA, more than 800 U.S. cities have water that exceeds the EPA’s "action level" for lead of 0.015 mg/l. Half of U.S. cities still send water through lead-lined or copper pipes with lead soldering. Lead pipes and lead solder are the primary source of lead in drinking water.

Testing your water for lead is a wise precaution as is calling your local water agency to find out if you have lead pipes leading into your house or apartment building. Some cities, like Boston, have computer listings of all the lead pipes in the city.

Non-metallic inorganics:

These include substances like asbestos which may leach from cement water mains, cyanide used in insecticides, emissions from metal refineries and in plastics and pigment manufacture. Nitrogen fertilizers used in agricultural production and on lawns and gardens form nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines in water. They can be a problem in agricultural areas that are served by private wells. Private well owners should test their water regularly for them.

Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs):

Thousands of SOCs, such as pesticides, solvents, industrial products and ingredients for cosmetics, cleaners and plastics, are produced today. Many SOCs have not been adequately tested for toxicity. Of the EPA’s 120 priority pollutants, 114 are SOCs. Some SOCs cause cancer, others reproductive and genetic damage. Some are neurotoxins, which damage the central nervous system.

Radioactive Substances:

About 50 million people in the U.S. may be drinking water contaminated by naturally occuring or man-made radionuclides such uranium, radium, strontium and radon. High levels of naturally occurring radionuclides are found in areas with granite substrata or those with known radioactive materials and may dissolve in the water. Man-made radioactive substances enter the water supply from nuclear power plant leaks and accidents, weapons testing, medical waste disposal and leaks at waste sites. As mentioned above, even small doses of radiation can cause genetic damage. Some pregnant women exposed to high levels of radiation after the nuclear accident in Chernobyl spontaneously aborted their babies, while some babies born to exposed women later developed thyroid cancer, which is rare among children. Under federal law, water companies are not required to test for radon and other radioactive substances, although some states may require it.

Chlorine and Trihalomethanes:

Chlorine is used by most water treatment facilities to kill bacteria. But chlorine reacts with organic chemicals left in the water by soil and decaying vegetation, forming a group of chemicals called trihalomethanes (THMs), which includes chloroform. Some studies show an association between exposure to THMs and bladder and rectal cancers, birth defects and miscarriages due to THM exposure.

Carbon-activated water filters, showerheads and faucets will remove THMs. THMs will also dissipate from tap water if you leave it in an open container in the refrigerator for a few hours, or boil it for one minute. (Warning: If you have lead contaminated water, boiling will increase the contamination levels. DO NOT boil unless you have already tested for lead.)

Although this is a rather long and frightening list, don’t be fooled into buying bottled water. Buying a water filter is the safest, most environmentally friendly and cheapest option. Bottled water is less regulated than tap, so there is no guarantee that it will be safer. Bottled water is only recommended for extreme contamination situations.