The SDWA Act defines a “contaminant” as any chemical, biological, physical, or radiological substance or matter present in water, such as lead and arsenic. The presence of chemicals in water makes it unsafe and unclean, which can lead to medical issues like cancer and kidney and heart issues. Roughly 771 million people worldwide lack access to clean water (1 in 10 people). Whether it’s water pollution, pesticides from agriculture and farming, or sewage, the effect on human health has become a serious problem.
The effects of the consumption of chemical drinking water can range from mild to severe depending on the exposure and longevity of the exposure. A shorter period of exposure to higher doses of chemicals can lead to skin discoloration or more severe issues like damage to your nervous system and organs, and it could affect reproduction and development. On the contrary, longer periods of exposure with lower exposure rates could lead to cancer or other problems. The most commonly seen chemical that damages water quality is arsenic. Arsenic is a chemical element that the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) defines as “carcinogenic to humans.” Arsenic is naturally found in groundwater sources, a common water source in many countries, causing several people to be exposed daily.
In addition to toxic groundwater, another way people unknowingly consume arsenic is by eating food prepared with contaminated water. To limit chemical consumption in water in the U.S., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the national standard for arsenic at 10 parts per billion (ppb). As there aren’t any national standards for private wells, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) analyzed water samples from over 5,000 wells nationwide. It concluded that at least 7% had arsenic levels above the EPA of 10 ppb. Even though this exposure is in low doses, over time, it can cause varying types of cancer.
Not only is arsenic a concern, but lead is also a serious issue. Water can contract lead in many ways, most commonly through chemical reactions in plumbing pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures. When the lead plumbing material corrodes, lead can leak into the water. Lead poisoning can cause cardiovascular and kidney problems but, more prominently, developmental and behavioral issues in children who have been exposed. Furthermore, reducing exposure to lead will lead to a lower risk of serious illness or death. To support that, the Safe Drinking Water Act uses the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) to determine the level of contaminant in drinking water where unlikely related health effects would occur, with extra caution for safety. These health goals, based on health risks alone, are known as maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs). EPA sets the maximum contaminant level goal at 0 for lead exposure, as lead is an extremely toxic metal that can harm even in small doses. Lead is especially harmful to young children, fetuses, and babies. This is because physical and behavioral issues occur at lower levels in children compared to adults. To emphasize, a small dose in an adult could cause minor or even no issues. However, the same dose in a child could be deadly. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) concluded that there are no known safe levels of lead in a child’s blood, but they recommend that actions are taken when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more. High levels of lead can result in problems like lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, anemia, hearing problems, and behavior and learning problems. In addition to those problems, issues in pregnant women have also arisen, such as reduced growth of the fetus and premature birth.
The EPA has many recommendations on how to stay safe from water contamination by lead and arsenic. Fortunately, your local water utility can test for lead, providing insight into the levels of lead in your drinking water. In addition to water tests, you can purchase a filter that is certified to remove lead. Cleaning this filter regularly is also crucial for protecting yourself and others. Arsenic can be filtered using different techniques, such as oxidation and absorption.
Though access to clean water is increasing every day, many people still have trouble finding it globally. Groundwater contamination from arsenic is more prominent in Asian countries, specifically Bangladesh and India. Since the majority of the population relies on groundwater for their main water supply, 79.9 million people in Bangladesh and 42.7 million people in India are exposed to high levels of arsenic. Hopefully, through solutions from governments and world leaders, clean drinking water will be available in all corners of the world.
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