Arsenic and Your Water

 


Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table, it is odorless and tasteless, and can enter drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices. Arsenic is a metal found in ores of copper, lead and other minerals, and in soil, groundwater and surface water. Arsenic compounds are used in wood preservatives and have been used in commercial pesticides.  Contamination of drinking water may occur if arsenic gets into the surface or groundwater after dissolving from minerals in the ground. It may also occur after the past use of arsenic-containing pesticides and improper waste disposal by smelting operations.

Arsenic is one of the inorganic contaminants regulated under the Phase II/V Rules. Under the Arsenic Rule of 2001, the EPA adopted a lower standard for arsenic in drinking water of 10 parts per billion (ppb), which replaced the prior standard of 50 ppb.

Non-cancer effects of arsenic can include: Thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, Vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness.

Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is also associated with nerve and liver damage, high blood pressure, damage to the vascular system (i.e., blood vessels of the heart and brain) and may lead to learning deficiencies. There is increasing evidence that long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water increases the risk of lung, skin and bladder cancer. The US EPA classifies arsenic as a human carcinogen. Chemicals that cause adverse health effects in humans after high levels of exposure may pose a risk of adverse health effects in humans exposed to lower levels over long periods of time.

Arsenic has been linked to a number of cancers. These include cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate.

How's your water? If you have any concerns about the quality of your water, contact us today to set up a free in home water analysis and consultation with one of our Water Pros.


For more information or advice about the quality of your water, contact AMBER Water Pros, LLC Licensed by the New York State DEC (NYRD No. 10967) | Certified members of the National Ground Water Association

315-484-5959 | 607-218-8744 | 518-323-6959 


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