Information About Water Contaminants
Author: Peter Kent

There is nothing more basic and integral to survival than
water and sustenance. For this reason, the pollution of the
sources of these items is of serious importance.
Unfortunately, as more unnatural and harmful material is
used in production, individuals stand an ever-increasing
risk of endangerment through direct and indirect
consumption of contaminated soil and water.

There are many organizations, which have the authorization
to assist in protections. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulates contamination through the Clean
Water Act (1972), the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974), among
other laws and statutes. The EPA has set maximum
contaminant levels for over 90 different chemicals, which
have been known to pollute water and soil.

This information is presented in the Drinking Water
Contaminant Candidate List, which also discusses priorities
for research and further regulation. The Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water also plays a part in keeping
contaminants out of soil and water. The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) offers guidelines regarding drinking water if
an abnormally high risk of health ramifications (such the
possibility of a compromised immune system) exists.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry
(ATSDR) is an excellent resource for research, which has
been done on hazardous substances and their proliferation.
Finally, the National Center for Environmental Assessment
collects data that are applicable to healthy water concerns.

Most local water companies publish an annual drinking water
quality report which is accessible online free of charge.
If an individual has additional questions, state certified
water testing laboratories can provide assistance. Water
pollution is an invasive and ubiquitous concern. It can and
does occur in many places. Wells and ground aquifers can be
the home to plumes, defined as a fluid body of
contamination flowing from a specific source. Humans are at
risk through ingestion, dermal contact with or inhalation
of hazardous substances. The latter can be from breathing
the steam while using the water to wash, or from a
combination of low water tables and volatile chemicals
resulting in a concentration of chemical gas in basements,
cellars or ground level floors.

According to the Children's Health Environmental Coalition,
the following are potential water contaminants:

* Pathogens: Bacteria, parasites and viruses such as
hepatitis and giardiasis. Most water is disinfected against
biological contamination, however if one is concerned about
parasites, it may be prudent to contact the local water
company and make sure adequate measures are being taken to
preserve health and safety.

* Heavy metals: Examples include lead, cadmium, arsenic,
and mercury from industrial use, incineration and disposal
in landfills. Testing the water for lead is an especially
important precaution as so many cities still use lead
piping to distribute water and over 800 cities register
water above the EPA's .15mg/l threshold for action.

* Non-metallic inorganics: Such as insecticides, nitrates
and asbestos. These substances may enter the water supply
through use in agriculture or the storage and distribution
of water itself. Private wells are especially susceptible
to this variety of hazardous contamination.

* Synthetic Organic Compounds: This is basically a
catch-all for over 50,000 substances with widely varying
solubility, volatility, vaporization and toxicity. They
include additives to solvents, pesticides, plastics,
cleaners and cosmetics.

* Radioactive substances: These may be both naturally
occurring and man made. The substances found include radon,
radium, uranium, and strontium. There is no federal law
requiring testing for these elements, thus, again, it may
be a responsible gesture to confirm that your local water
company does an adequate comprehensive analysis.

* Chlorine and Trihalomethanes: Chlorine is added to water
to disinfect it, as discussed above. Unfortunately, it also
reacts with organic chemicals left in the water by soil and
decaying vegetation, forming a group of chemicals called
trihalomethanes (THM). THMs are carcinogens which are
methane derivatives.

Clearly, there are many potential health hazards present in
water, something that is seemingly innocuous, but should be
carefully monitored.


About the Author:

To learn more about protecting yourself and loved ones from
consuming contaminated water, visit
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