Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water

Coliform bacteria are a type of bacteria that can be present in untreated well water. Coliform bacteria can also come from carbon fiber filters so it is important to change your carbon water filters as recommended by the manufacturer. Some carbon water filters have KDF technology - a patented copper-zinc combination that inhibits the growth of bacteria in the filter.

Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water: "Coliform bacteria live in soil or vegetation and in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Coliforms enter water supplies from the direct disposal of waste into streams or lakes, or from runoff from wooded areas, pastures, feedlots, septic tanks, and sewage plants into streams or groundwater. In addition, coliforms can enter an individual house via backflow of water from a contaminated source, carbon filters, or leaking well caps that allow dirt and dead organisms to fall into the water (2).

Coliforms are not a single type of bacteria, but a grouping of bacteria that includes many strains, such as E. coli. They are ubiquitous in nature, and many types are harmless. Therefore, it is not definitive that coliform bacteria will cause sickness. Many variables such as the specific type of bacteria present, and your own immune system's effectiveness will determine if you will get sick. In fact, many people become immune to bacteria that is present in their own water (2). Guests on the other hand, may not have developed an immunity to the water and may experience some gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea or gastroenteritis (2).

Total coliforms are the standard by which microbial contamination is measured. Coliforms will be one of the first bacteria present in the water should contamination occur, and they will be in much larger quantities than some pathogenic microbes that may be present. Therefore, coliforms act as indicators of possible contamination. The presence of coliform bacteria does not necessarily mean that pathogenic microbes are also present. However, if large coliform quantities are detected, the presence of other microbes should be checked for. If you are a private water consumer and concerned about your water supply, you can obtain more information about protecting your private water supply from the EPA. Generally, testing is done once a year. However it may also be wise to test the water for the following reasons:

A new well or pump has been installed
An old well or pipe has been repaired or replaced
Family or guests are have reoccurring gastrointestinal distress
An infant is living in the home
A new home is being purchased, and the quality of water needs to be determined
The effectiveness of a water treatment system needs to be tested
The water has had a change in taste, color or odor (2) "

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Drinking Water Safety

Cryptosporidium Parasite in Drinking Water

Cryptosporidium is a dangerous parasite that can contaminate drinking water and has made hundreds of thousands of Americans sick during just the past 10 years. When a person has been infected by Cryptosporidium, only the symptoms of the illness can be treated; there is no cure. Most people are ill for 1-2 weeks and their immune system eventually remedies the illness. For people with a compromised immune system, the parasite can be deadly. Water filters are an effective methods of eliminating these parasites from drinking water.

Microorganisms, Bacteria, and Viruses in Drinking Water: "Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, which has gained notoriety in the past five years. In 1993, over 400,000 people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin became ill with it after drinking contaminated water (6). Since this outbreak, there has been a greater impetus to remove the cryptosporidium from municipal water supplies.

Cryptosporidium is spread by the transmission of oocysts via drinking water which has been contaminated with infected fecal material. Oocysts from humans are infective to humans and many other mammals, and many animals act as reservoirs of oocysts which can infect humans. Once inside of its host, the oocyst breaks, releasing four movable spores that attach to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, and eventually form oocysts again that can be excreted (4). Symptoms occur 2 to 10 days after infection (6). These symptoms include diarrhea, headache, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and a low fever. There is no treatment against the protozoa, although it is possible to treat the symptoms. After about 1-2 weeks, the symptoms subside as the immune system stops the infection. However, for persons with a compromised immune system such as infants, seniors, those with AIDS, or transplantees, cryptosporidiosis may become life threatening (4,6). "

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Drinking Water safety

Radioactive contamination of Drinking Water

This article by USA Today, shows us why we need to be concerned about Radioactive wastes and heavy metals in our drinking water. Only a portion or the article appears here - click the link to read the complete article. Millions of Americans are at risk from drinking water contaimated with radioactive wastes.

USATODAY.com - Report: Nuclear sites put drinking water sources at risk: "Report: Nuclear sites put drinking water sources at risk
By Larry Bivins and Greg Wright, Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON - Major sources of drinking water remain at risk of serious contamination from the nation's nuclear weapons complexes, despite billions in federal spending to clean up hazardous waste produced at these sites, according to a new report.

The seepage of radioactive and toxic byproducts into vital water resources pose grave health dangers to the tens of thousands of workers at these nuclear facilities, area residents and people who live dozens of miles away, authors of the report concluded.

Long-term exposure to such radioactive materials, including cesium, mercury, strontium, plutonium, trichloroethylene and uranium, could cause heart disease and cancer.

Based on a two-year study conducted by the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, a coalition of about 30 environmental, health and safety organizations, the report contends that the Department of Energy has been retreating from a commitment to clean up these sites. The department has spent an estimated $200 billion so far, the report said.

Among the major water bodies facing the greatest threat are the Columbia River in Washington, the Clinch River in Tennessee, the Great Miami River in Ohio and the Savannah River in South Carolina, the alliance said. Ohio's Great Miami Aquifer, the Ogallala Aquifer in Texas and Idaho's Snake River Aquifer are among the underground water sources being polluted, the report said.

Kingston, Tenn.; Richland, Wash.; and Cincinnati are among the cities that rely almost exclusively on at-risk aquifers or rivers for drinking water.

A recent report found radioactive pollutants in drinking water 70 miles downstream from the Savannah River weapons site near Augusta, Ga., and Aiken, S.C., said Lou Zeller, director of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, which keeps track of cleanup at the site.

In Idaho, about 270,000 people depend solely on the Snake River Aquifer, considered "literally the lifeblood of Southern Idaho's economy," said Jeremy Maxand, director of the Snake River Alliance, which monitors the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory."

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Drug in our Drinking Water

Here is an article from Aquasana about the threat of drugs in our drinking water supply. The fact that drugs are beginning to contaminate our water supply should be of concern to us all. Water treatment facilities are not designed to remove drugs from the water supply and research into the affect of these drugs in our water is still years away. In the meantime, water filtration is the only way to protect yourself from the potential dangers of drugs in your drinking water.

Water Contamination and Drugs - Health and Fitness - Healthy Water: "As if we didn't have enough worries about the quality of our drinking water, we now find that caffeine, nicotine, antibiotics and many prescription drugs are being detected in our public and private water systems.

It's not a very pleasant thought, but on the average... about 10% of the water we drink has been used before.

The same amount of water that exists on this planet today... existed millions of years ago... to the drop! There is no such thing as new water. Our planet continuously recycles and re-uses this finite supply of water. Only recently have we learned how fragile and finite our water resources really are. We are finding traces of compounds in our water that no one ever thought to look for before.

In 1999‚ a 17-year-old West Virginia high school student‚ Ashley Mulroy‚ read a report in a science magazine describing how European scientists had recently discovered that drugs of all kinds‚ including antibiotics‚ were flowing in rivers‚ streams‚ ground water and even in tap water and decided to embark on a science project of her own. Over a ten week period‚ Ashley and her mother drove for miles along the Ohio River taking samples of the water from different sites. She then returned to her hometown and had the samples tested for three common antibiotics: penicillin‚ tetracycline and vancomycin... to her surprise she found traces of all three in the samples she had taken. Ashley then sampled tap water in three near by towns. All three‚ including water from the drinking fountain at her school‚ were contaminated with the antibiotics in question. Ashley was awarded several science project awards and more importantly opened the eyes of many U.S. scientists.

Researchers from the U.S. E.P.A. and the National Geological Survey have now found traces of antibiotics‚ birth control drugs‚ anti-depressants and even caffeine in many water samples taken across the country. Large animal farming operations and waste water treatment plants release billions of gallons of contaminated waste water into our environment every day. A large percentage of the drugs that are given to humans and animals pass through the body and wind up in this recycled waste water.

USA Today‚ in a 11/8/00 news release‚ stated that "experts fear that even low levels of antibiotics fouling the nations water supply may help create super-bugs: micro organisms that have evolved to survive an antibiotic‘s lethal assault." And that these super-bugs may be causing 'tens of thousands' of deaths each year in the U.S.A‚ according to Abigail Salyers‚ an expert on antibiotic resistance at the University of Illinois.

Christian Daughton‚ a Chief of Environmental Chemistry for the E.P.A.‚ warns that 'Water pollution by drugs is a newly emerging issue.'

Our public water treatment plants are not designed to remove drugs and other synthetic chemicals from our water. Without waiting for the final verdict on the actual effects of drinking a mixture of drugs and other chemicals... we can assume that they will be negative. The only question is... how negative and why wait?"

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Cancer Risks From Arsenic in Drinking Water

NRDC: Arsenic in Drinking Water FAQ:

What are the possible health effects of arsenic in drinking water? According to a 1999 study by the National Academy of Sciences, arsenic in drinking water causes bladder, lung and skin cancer, and may cause kidney and liver cancer. The study also found that arsenic harms the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as heart and blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. It also may cause birth defects and reproductive problems.

Does it occur often? NRDC analyzed data compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on arsenic in drinking water in 25 states. Our most conservative estimates based on the data indicate that more than 34 million Americans drink tap water supplied by systems containing average levels of arsenic that pose unacceptable cancer risks. We consider it likely that as many as 56 million people in those 25 states have been drinking water with arsenic at unsafe levels -- and that's just the 25 states that reported arsenic information to the EPA.

Can I buy a filter that will remove arsenic from my water? Yes. You should purchase filters certified by NSF International (1-800-NSF-MARK) to remove arsenic (such as water distillation systems). While such certification is not necessarily a guarantee of safety, it is better than no certification at all. It is critically important that all filters be maintained and replaced at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer; otherwise they might make the problem worse.

Read more Arsenic in Drinking Water FAQ's at NRDC: Arsenic in Drinking Water FAQ.

Learn more about NSF Approved Arsenic Drinking Water Filters at Crystal Quest.


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Lead in Drinking Water of 40 Million Americans

The EPA estimates that 40 million Americans have lead in the drinking they drink.

EPA > Water > Safewater > Lead In Drinking Water: Lead, a metal found in natural deposits, is commonly used in household plumbing materials and water service lines. The greatest exposure to lead is swallowing or breathing in lead paint chips and dust.

But lead in drinking water can also cause a variety of adverse health effects. In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new homes are also at risk: even legally �lead-free� plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water.

The health effects of lead are most severe for infants and children. For infants and children, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical or mental development. For adults, it can result in kidney problems or high blood pressure. Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.

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The Dangers of Fluoride in Drinking Water

Fluoride is a dangerous toxic chemical that is being put into our drinking water every day.

Fluoride has repeatedly been shown to be a carcinogen in cell cultures, animals and humans. In 1956 Dr. John Chaffey, a professor of clinical pediatrics at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, noted cortical defects in the bone x-rays of 13.5% of the children living in fluoridated Newburgh, compared to only 7.5% in the neighboring nonfluoridated Kingston. He also noted the lesions were strikingly similar to osteosarcoma. Studies have now confirmed a dramatic increase in osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in young males exposed to fluoride during growth of the bones and a 5% increase in all types of cancers in fluoridated communities. Fluoridation does not reduce tooth decay. Adding fluoride to drinking water has not been shown to be effective in reducing tooth decay. In blinded animal studies there was no correlation to the amount of fluoride and tooth decay.

In the human populations fluoridation was not effective in reducing tooth decay. In fact, tooth decay has decreased more in some nonfluoridated communities than in fluoridated ones. Fluorosis is a disease (health effect) caused by fluoride. According to the National Research Council fluorosis affects 8 to 51% and sometimes as many as 80% of the children growing up in areas where drinking water contains one part per million (1 ppm) fluoride. Fluoride also can have a deleterious effect on bone growth and cause premature joint and ligament aging. The visible damage to tooth surfaces results in mottled, brittle teeth that are prone to fracture and may cost many thousands of dollars to cosmetically repair. I also give you the fact that RAT POISON, a Toxic Industrial byproduct, consists of only sodium fluoride. Europe and Japan have virtually abolished water fluoridation. Why is it the most advanced and powerful nation on earth continues to dump tons of this toxic industrial waste byproduct into our water supply?

It is difficult to find one filter that does everything: many reverse osmosis filters take out fluoride, but also the healthy minerals. Many of the high-end carbon filters will not remove fluoride or nitrates, but leave the healthy minerals. Fluoride is obviously an important one. Find out if the filter you are about to buy removes fluoride, and what percentage. After what we've learned about fluoride, we should expect a filter to remove it, wouldn't you say? Problem is: the demand. Due to fluoride advocate propaganda, most Americans don't even realize fluoride is bad for them, and therefore don't think about it when considering a water filter.

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Over 2100 Toxic Chemical in Drinking Water

"U.S. drinking water contains more than 2100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer."
Ralph Nader Research Institute

Water Contamination Information - Health and Fitness - Healthy Water: The causes of tap water contamination are many, ranging from agricultural runoff to improper use of household chemicals and everything in between. Few of us realize the extent or impact of these low level synthetic chemicals in the water we use. While the standard use in our society of over 80‚000 different synthetic chemicals has offered added convenience and productivity in our lives‚ it has also come at a tremendous price... drastic increases in degenerative disease.

In the early 1900s‚ before chlorine‚ pesticides‚ herbicides and the tens of thousands of other chemicals that we are exposed to every day‚ the average American had a 1 in 50 chance of getting cancer‚ today 1 in 3 can expect to get cancer in their lifetime‚ 1 in every 2 males.

Our use of man-made chemicals has become so extreme that we can now find traces of these low level SOCs (synthetic organic chemicals) in virtually every public water supply around the world. A recent report by the Ralph Nader Study Group‚ after reviewing over 10‚000 documents acquired through the Freedom Of Information Act‚ confirmed that "U.S. drinking water contains more than 2100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer."

We've learned that any chemical we use in our society, will eventually wind up in our water supplies. There is no "new" water! Our planet re-uses the same water over and over. And as our use of SOCs increases, so does the toxicity of our water. Earth's natural filtration process is not effective at removing these toxic SOCs... nor is municipal water treatment. Industry, agriculture and individuals... all contribute to the problem. Many of the contaminants found in water can be traced back to improper or excessive use of ordinary compounds like lawn chemicals‚ gasoline, drycleaning solvents and cleaning products.

Our municipal water treatment facilities do not remove SOCs and typically only consist of sand bed filtration and disinfection‚ much like a standard swimming pool filter. For the most part‚ today‘s water treatment facilities are much the same as they were at the turn of the century, filter out the visable particles and add bleach!

The use of pesticides and herbicides has become so excessive that they are now commonly found in household tap water and bottled water with alarming frequency.

A 1998 study of 29 major U.S. cities by the Environmental Working Group found that all 29 cities had traces of at least one weed killer in the drinking water. The report titled "Weed Killers By The Glass" went on to say that "Millions of Americans are routinely exposed to one or more pesticides in a single glass of tap water."

These first ever "tap water testings" found two or more pesticides in the drinking water of 27 of the 29 cities‚ three or more in 24 cities‚ four or more in 21 cities‚ five or more in 18 cities‚ six or more in 13 cities and seven or more pesticides in the tap water of 5 major U.S. cities. In Fort Wayne‚ Indiana‚ nine different pesticides were found in a single glass of tap water!

As a startling side note‚ it was reported that in these 29 cities‚ 45‚000 infants drank formula mixed with tap water containing weed killers and that "over half of these infants were swallowing 4 to 9 chemicals in every bottle!"

The tragic health effects of consuming these highly toxic chemicals are magnified many times over for small children because their systems are more sensitive and still developing. Small children also consume a much larger volume of fluids per pound of body weight and therefore get a bigger dose‚ yet none of these factors are considered when the EPA‘s maximum contaminant levels are set. The National Academy of Sciences issued a report in 1993 on this subject and stated children are not little adults and their bodies are less developed and simply incapable of detoxifying certain harmful compounds."

Another major flaw in the estimated risks of chemicals in our drinking water is the false assumption that only that one chemical is being consumed. The regulations are set based on what is assumed safe for a 175 pound adult drinking water with only one chemical present and does not take into account the combined toxicity of two or more chemicals.

In a 1995 Science Advisory Report to the EPA‚ it was stated that "when two or more of these contaminants combine in our water the potency may be increased by as much as 1000 times!"

It has been shown that areas with the highest levels of these SOCs in their water supplies also have the highest incidence of cancer.

Jacquelyn Warren of the Natural Resources Defense Council commented on this subject‚ "The one thing we know for sure about toxins in our drinking water is that the more we look the more we find.

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Drinking Water Health Advisories

Can we depend on health advisories to protect us from unsafe drinking water?

Mircobial Contamination: When microbial contamination of the water supply has been determined a boil water advisory or a boil water order will be issued.

A boil water advisory is a public warning stating that the water supply in a specific location may be unsafe for consumption. This means that prior to drinking, cooking, or even brushing your teeth, the water must be brought to a rolling boil for a specified amount of time, generally for at least 1 minute. The more serious boil water orders are issued in the event of a water sample testing positive for contaminants. These orders are issued when there is a confirmed problem with the water that could pose as a health concern to those consuming it.

Often biological contamination comes to the attention of the public health departments that will issue the boil water advisories or orders when it's been noticed by health professionals that there are an inordinate amount of illnesses and water contamination is suspected. In these cases the boil water advisory will come too late to keep some people from getting sick. Often people die before the boil water orders are issued.

Chemical Contamination: Boil water advisories are not issued for chemically contaminated water. Boiling water that is contaminated with chemicals only serves to concentrate the amount of chemical in the water.

If the water supply is contaminated with chemicals, a do not use notice will be issued if the health risk is deemed unacceptable. Since many chemicals cause longer term health risks than do biological contaminants, the length of time that the contamination will exist in the water supply before corrections, will be considered when issuing a do not use notice. In the meantime, water with above the allowable levels of chemical contamination is being served to the public with no warnings being issued.

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MTBE, The Fuel Additive in our Drinking Water

Inceasingly, MTBE (methyl-t-butyl ether) is being discovered in our drinking water. MTBE is a fuel additive commonly used in the United States to reduce carbon monoxide and ozone levels caused by auto emissions. Due to its widespread use, reports of MTBE detections in the nation's ground and surface water supplies are increasing.

The Office of Water and other EPA offices are working with a panel of leading experts to focus on issues posed by the continued use of MTBE and other oxygenates in gasoline. EPA is currently studying the implications of setting a drinking water standard for MTBE.

Research on the health effects of injesting MTBE is limited. Most of the research has been centered on the health effects of inhaling MTBE.

The EPA reviewed available health impact data on MTBE in its 1997 Drinking Water Advisory guidance and decided that there was insufficient information available to allow EPA to establish health advisory limits.

In 1994, the New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute recognized the uncertainties regarding the carcinogenicity of MTBE, specifically by oral exposure, and classified MTBE as a possible human carcinogen.

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Chlorination By-products in our Drinking Water

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant in the vast majority of water treatment systems to kill bacteria. During the disinfection process, chlorine reacts with organic matter that is naturally present in the water and forms the following disinfectant by-products.

Although using chlorine to kill the bacteria in our water may keep us from getting gastro-intestinal illnesses, it increases our risk of getting cancer and can affect a pregnant woman's unborn child.

The following information comes directly from the EPA.

Total Trihalomethanes. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of EPA's standard over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Haloacetic Acids. Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of EPA's standard over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Bromate. Some people who drink water containing bromate in excess of EPA's standard over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Chlorite. Some infants and young children who drink water containing chlorite in excess of EPA's standard could experience nervous system effects. Similar effects may occur in fetuses of pregnant women who drink water containing chlorite in excess of EPA's standard. Some people may experience anemia.

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Volitile Organic Compounds in our Drinking Water

The following list of volatile organic contaminants are recognized by the EPA as being unsafe in drinking water. I'm providing the health hazards and where each compound enters the water supply.

This time, let's focus on our liver. I'm going to highlight in red all the times that liver problems occurs from these volitile ogranic compounds in our drinking water. If you're at all attached to your liver, you might want to consider protecting it by filtering the water that you drink.

Benzene - Anemia; decrease in blood platelets; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from factories; leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills.

Carbon Tetrachloride - Liver problems; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial activities.

Chlorobenzene - Liver or kidney problems. Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories.

o-Dichlorobenzene - Liver, kidney, or circulatory system problems. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

p-Dichlorobenzene - Anemia; liver, kidney or spleen damage; changes in blood. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

1,1-Dichloroethylene - Liver problems. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene - Liver problems. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

trans-1,2-Dicholoroethylene - Liver problems. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

Dichloromethane - Liver problems; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from drug and chemical factories.

1,2-Dichloroethane - Increased risk of cancer. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

1,2-Dichloropropane - Increased risk of cancer. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

Ethylbenzene - Kidney or liver problems. Discharge from petroleum refineries.

Styrene - Liver, kidney, or circulatory system problems. Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; leaching from landfills.

Tetrachloroethylene - Liver problems; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from factories and dry cleaners.

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene - Changes in adrenal glands. Discharge from textile finishing factories.

1,1,1,-Trichloroethane - Liver, nervous system, or circulatory problems. Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories.

1,1,2-Trichloroethane - Liver, kidney, or immune system problems. Discharge from industrial chemical factories.

Trichloroethylene - Liver problems; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories.

Toluene - Nervous system, kidney, or liver problems. Discharge from petroleum factories.

Vinyl Chloride - Nervous system, kidney, or liver problems. Discharge from petroleum factories.

Xylenes - Nervous system damage. Discharge from petroleum factories; discharge from chemical factories.

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Drinking Water Filters

Pesticides and Herbicides in our Drinking Water

Listed below are the pesticides and herbicides controlled by the EPA that might be found in drinking water and where they come from. Today, I'm going to highlight in red, just one word in this list of pollutants, everytime it appears; and that word is cancer.

My own father died from cancer. A very special girl friend of mine, and mother of two young children, is currently battling cancer. It is a horrible disease. Statistically, if you live to be 80 years old, you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting cancer. I strongly believe that we have to take every precaution we can against getting cancer. Removing these cancer causing chemicals from our water using home water filters is a simple and inexpensive step towards lowering our risk of getting cancer.

2,4-D - Kidney, liver, or adrenal gland problems. Runoff from herbicide used on row crops.

2,4,5-TP (Silvex) - Liver problems. Residue of banned herbicide.

Acrylamide - Nervous system or blood problems; increased risk of cancer. Added to water during sewage/wastewater treatment.

Alachlor - Eye, liver, kidney or spleen problems; anemia; increased risk of cancer. Runoff from herbicide used on row crops.

Atrazine - Cardiovascular system or reproductive problems. Runoff from herbicide used on row crops.

Benzoapyrene - Reproductive difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Leaching from linings of water storage tanks and distribution lines.

Carbofuran - Reproductive difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Leaching from linings of water storage tanks and distribution lines.

Chlordane - Liver or nervous system problems; increased risk of cancer. Residue of banned termiticide.

Dalapon - Minor kidney changes. Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way.

Di 2-ethylhexyl adipate - Weight loss, liver problems, or possible reproductive difficulties.
Discharge from chemical factories.

Di 2-ethylhexyl phthalate - Reproductive difficulties; liver problems; increased risk of cancer.
Discharge from rubber and chemical factories.

Dibromochloropropane - Reproductive difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Runoff/leaching from soil fumigant used on soybeans, cotton, pineapples, and orchards.

Dinoseb - Reproductive difficulties. Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans and vegetables.

Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) - Reproductive difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Emissions from waste incineration and other combustion; discharge from chemical factories.

Diquat - Cataracts. Runoff from herbicide use.

Endothall - Stomach and intestinal problems. Runoff from herbicide use.

Endrin - Liver problems. Residue of banned insecticide.

Epichlorohydrin - Increased cancer risk, and over a long period of time, stomach problems.
Discharge from industrial chemical factories; an impurity of some water treatment chemicals.

Ethylene dibromide - Problems with liver, stomach, reproductive system, or kidneys; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from petroleum refineries.

Glyphosate - Kidney problems; reproductive difficulties. Runoff from herbicide use.

Heptachlor - Liver damage; increased risk of cancer. Residue of banned termiticide.

Heptachlor epoxide - Liver damage; increased risk of cancer. Breakdown of heptachlor.

Hexachlorobenzene - Liver or kidney problems; reproductive difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Discharge from metal refineries and agricultural chemical factories.

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene - Kidney or stomach problems. Discharge from chemical factories.

Lindane - Liver or kidney problems. Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cattle, lumber, gardens.

Methoxychlor - Reproductive difficulties. Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock.

Oxamyl [Vydate] - Slight nervous system effects. Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on apples, potatoes, and tomatoe.

PCBs [Polychlorinated biphenyls] - Skin changes; thymus gland problems; immune deficiencies; reproductive or nervous system difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Runoff from landfills; discharge of waste chemicals.

Pentachlorophenol - Liver or kidney problems; increased cancer risk. Discharge from wood preserving factories.

Picloram - Liver problems. Herbicide runoff.

Simazine - Problems with blood. Herbicide runoff.

Toxaphene - Kidney, liver, or thyroid problems; increased risk of cancer. Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cotton and cattle.

If just one of these water pollutants can incease your risk of cancer, imagine what your cancer risk will be if you are drinking water contaminated with several or even a multitude of these chemicals every single day.

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Drinking Water Filters

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Drinking water safety

Inorganic Compounds in our Drinking Water

The following list of inorganic compounds are regulated by the EPA - which means that the EPA recognizes them as a danger to our health and limits the amount that can safely be in our drinking water. A special note on lead is that lead contamination can be picked up enroute from the water source to your faucet. Whole home water filtration systems or faucet mounted water filters are the only safe way to ensure there is no lead in your drinking water.

Antimony: Increase in blood cholesterol; decrease in blood sugar. Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder.

Asbestos: Increased risk of developing benign intestinal polyps. Decay of asbestos cement in water mains; erosion of natural deposits.

Barium: Increase in blood pressure. Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits.

Beryllium: Intestinal lesions. Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories; discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries.

Cadmium: Kidney damage. Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints.

Chromium: Allergic dermatitis. Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits.

Copper: Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress. Long term exposure: Liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson's Disease should consult their personal doctor if the amount of copper in their water exceeds the action level (1.3 parts per million). Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.

Cyanide: Nerve damage or thyroid problems. Discharge from steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories.

Mercury: Kidney damage. Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills and croplands.

Nitrate & Nitrite (measured as nitrogen): Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL [10 ppm for nitrate and 1 ppm for nitrite] could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.

Selenium: Hair or fingernail loss; numbness in fingers or toes; circulatory problems. Discharge from petroleum refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines.

Thallium: Hair loss; changes in blood; kidney, intestine, or liver problems. Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories

Arsenic: Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer. Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards, runoff from glass & electronicsproduction wastes.

Fluoride: Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); Children may get mottled teeth. Water additive which promotes strong teeth (unproven); erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Notes: Many communities add fluoride to their drinking water to promote dental health. Each community makes its own decision about whether or not to add fluoride. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for fluoride of 4 mg/L (some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of this level over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones). EPA has also set a secondary fluoride standard of 2 mg/L to protect against dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine should not drink water that has more than 2 mg/L of fluoride.

Lead: Infants and children: Delays in physical or mental development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults: Kidney problems; high blood pressure. Corrosion of water supply and household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits. Notes: Lead typically leaches into water from plumbing in older buildings. Lead pipes and plumbing fittings have been banned since August 1998. Children and pregnant women are most susceptible to lead health risks. For advice on avoiding lead, see EPA's lead in your drinking water fact sheet.

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Drinking Water Filters

Radioactive Particles in Drinking Water

The following information comes from the EPA's website and talks about radionuclides (or radioactive particles). It tells you that drinking water contaminated with radioactive particles increases your risk of cancer but it doesn't tell you how these radioactive particles get into your drinking water - so I will.

Radioactive particles get into your drinking water from leaks, spills and dumping by nuclear power plants. Sometimes the release of contaminated water is accidental and sometimes it's intentional (and allowed by the government). See the article Nuclear Plant Spills Radioactive Wastes for one instance of radioactive material being released. This spill was reported on March 7, 2006 in Illinois.

Uranium (listed below as Combined Radium 226/228) and radon gas that is produced by the radioactive decay of uranium is found naturally in the soil and is a naturally occuring contaminant of drinking water.

EPA Ground Water & Drinking Water: Radionuclides

Alpha emitters. Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water containing alpha emitters in excess of EPA's standard over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Beta/photon emitters. Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation known as photons and beta radiation. Some people who drink water containing beta and photon emitters in excess of EPA's standard over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Combined Radium 226/228. Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess of EPA's standard over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Radon gas can dissolve and accumulate in underground water sources, such as wells, and in the air in your home. Breathing radon can cause lung cancer. Drinking water containing radon presents a risk of developing cancer. Radon in air is more dangerous than radon in water.
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Drinking Water Filters

Microbes and Micro-organisms in Drinking Water

Let's take a look at what microbes and micro-organisms may infect our drinking water, where they come from and how they can make us sick.

Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water is usually a result of a problem with the treatment system or the pipes which distribute water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease.

Fecal Coliform and E coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.

Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and animal waste. It causes cryptosporidiosis, a mild gastrointestinal disease. However, the disease can be severe or fatal for people with severely weakened immune systems. EPA and CDC have prepared advice for those with severely compromised immune systems who are concerned about Cryptosporidium.

Giardia lamblia is a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and animal waste. It causes gastrointestinal illness (e.g. diarrhea, vomiting, cramps).

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Drinking Water Filters

Drinking Water Safety when Travelling

The following quote from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds us that when traveling, we need to be concerned about drinking water safety. North Americans are, for the most part, provided with water that is generally free of bacteria (largely due to chlorination) and we tend to take it for granted that we won't get sick from water.

CDC - Yellow Book: CDC Travelers' Health: "Travelers should use only purified water for drinking, preparing ice cubes, brushing teeth, and mixing infant formula and foods.

When we travel, though, we really do need to be careful of what may be in the drinking water. Portable water filters are readily available that can filter water when you're traveling. They may be water bottle filters, or drinking straw filters or various other portable water filters designed for travel to remote areas (ie wilderness travel).

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Drinking Water Filters

Chlorination by-products and Bladder Cancer

Now that we've considered well water contamination, let's turn our attention to water supplied by public or private water suppliers. All of the same contaminants that can be found in well water, can also be found in "city water". The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the US regulates the maximum allowable levels of some contaminants in water and states regulate other pollutants.

In order to cleanse the water supplied to households of bacteria, water suppliers use chlorine treatment. Chlorine reacts with naturally occuring organic compounds in water and leaves behind trihalomethane [THM]. THM has been linked to cancer since the 1960 and more recent studies are still confirming the link between cancer and chlorination of water.

Here is a study, conducted in Canada, that considered the link between bladder cancer and THM's.

SpringerLink - Article: "Case-control study of bladder cancer and chlorination by-products in treated water (Ontario, Canada)
Will D. King and Loraine D. Marrett

Chlorine is by far the most commonly used chemical for the disinfection of water supplies in North America. However, chlorine reacts with organic material in the raw water producing a number of halogenated hydrocarbon by-products. This population-based case-control study in Ontario, Canada examined the relationship between bladder cancer and exposure to chlorination by-products in public water supplies. Residence and water source histories and data from municipal water supplies were used to estimate individual exposure according to water source, chlorination status, and by-product levels (represented by trihalomethane [THM] concentration). Exposures were estimated for the 40-year period prior to the interview, using 696 cases diagnosed with bladder cancer between 1 September 1992 and 1 May 1994 and 1,545 controls with at least 30 years of exposure information. Odds ratios (OR) adjusted for potential confounders were used to estimate relative risk. Those exposed to chlorinated surface water for 35 or more years had an increased risk of bladder cancer compared with those exposed for less than 10 years (OR=1.41, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.10�1.81). Those exposed to an estimated THM level 50 g/liter for 35 or more years had 1.63 times the risk of those exposed for less than 10 years (CI=1.08�2.46). These results indicate that the risk of bladder cancer increases with both duration and concentration of exposure to chlorination by-products, with population attributable risks of about 14 to 16 percent. Chlorination by-products represent a potentially important risk factor for bladder cancer.

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Drinking Water Filters

Well Water Contamination Caused by Human Activities Part II

Here is the second part of the information I promised about well water contamination caused by human activities.

There are a lot of sources of water pollution that can get into our drinking water. That's the bad news. The good news is that a simple, effective and inexpensive way to prevent all of these contaminants from getting from our wells into our drinking water glasses is to install a faucet water filter that will cost less than $30. That's a pretty cheap solution to a potentially huge problem, don't you think?

EPA > Water > Safewater > Private Drinking Water Wells > Human Health:

Industrial Products and Wastes: Many harmful chemicals are used widely in local business and industry. These can become drinking water pollutants if not well managed. The most common sources of such problems are:

Local Businesses: These include nearby factories, industrial plants, and even small businesses such as gas stations and dry cleaners. All handle a variety of hazardous chemicals that need careful management. Spills and improper disposal of these chemicals or of industrial wastes can threaten ground water supplies.

Leaking Underground Tanks & Piping: Petroleum products, chemicals, and wastes stored in underground storage tanks and pipes may end up in the ground water. Tanks and piping leak if they are constructed or installed improperly. Steel tanks and piping corrode with age. Tanks are often found on farms. The possibility of leaking tanks is great on old, abandoned farm sites. Farm tanks are exempt from the EPA rules for petroleum and chemical tanks.

Landfills and Waste Dumps: Modern landfills are designed to contain any leaking liquids. But floods can carry them over the barriers. Older dumpsites may have a wide variety of pollutants that can seep into ground water.

Household Wastes: Improper disposal of many common products can pollute ground water. These include cleaning solvents, used motor oil, paints, and paint thinners. Even soaps and detergents can harm drinking water. These are often a problem from faulty septic tanks and septic leaching fields.

Lead & Copper: Household plumbing materials are the most common source of lead and copper in home drinking water. Corrosive water may cause metals in pipes or soldered joints to leach into your tap water. Your water�s acidity or alkalinity (often measured as pH) greatly affects corrosion. Temperature and mineral content also affect how corrosive it is. They are often used in pipes, solder, or plumbing fixtures. Lead can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. The age of plumbing materials — in particular, copper pipes soldered with lead — is also important. Even in relatively low amounts these metals can be harmful. EPA rules under the Safe Drinking Water Act limit lead in drinking water to 15 parts per billion. Since 1988 the Act only allows “lead free” pipe, solder, and flux in drinking water systems. The law covers both new installations and repairs of plumbing.

Water Treatment Chemicals: Improper handling or storage of water-well treatment chemicals (disinfectants, corrosion inhibitors, etc.) close to your well can cause problems.

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Drinking Water Filters

Well Water Contamination caused by Human Activities Part I

There are lots of human activities that create water pollution around our homes and can cause our drinking water to become contaminated so I'm breaking it into two parts. Here is Part I.

EPA > Water > Safewater > Private Drinking Water Wells > Human Health: "What Human Activities Can Pollute Ground Water?

Septic tanks are designed to have a "leach field" around them - an area where wastewater flows out of the tank. This wastewater can also move into the ground water.

Bacteria and Nitrates: These pollutants are found in human and animal wastes. Septic tanks can cause bacterial and nitrate pollution. So can large numbers of farm animals. Both septic systems and animal manures must be carefully managed to prevent pollution. Sanitary landfills and garbage dumps are also sources. Children and some adults are at extra risk when exposed to water-born bacteria. These include the elderly and people whose immune systems are weak due to AIDS or treatments for cancer. Fertilizers can add to nitrate problems. Nitrates cause a health threat in very young infants called "blue baby" syndrome. This condition disrupts oxygen flow in the blood.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs): The number of CAFOs, often called factory farms; is growing. On these farms thousands of animals are raised in a small space. The large amounts of animal wastes/manures from these farms can threaten water supplies. Strict and careful manure management is needed to prevent pathogen and nutrient problems. Salts from high levels of manures can also pollute ground water.

Heavy Metals: Activities such as mining and construction can release large amounts of heavy metals into nearby ground water sources. Some older fruit orchards may contain high levels of arsenic, once used as a pesticide. At high levels, these metals pose a health risk.

Fertilizers and Pesticides: Farmers use fertilizers and pesticides to promote growth and reduce insect damage. These products are also used on golf courses and suburban lawns and gardens. The chemicals in these products may end up in ground water. Such pollution depends on the types and amounts of chemicals used and how they are applied. Local environmental conditions (soil types, seasonal snow and rainfall) also affect this pollution. Many fertilizers contain forms of nitrogen that can break down into harmful nitrates. This could add to other sources of nitrates mentioned above. Some underground agricultural drainage systems collect fertilizers and pesticides. This polluted water can pose problems to ground water and local streams and rivers. In addition, chemicals used to treat buildings and homes for termites or other pests may also pose a threat. Again, the possibility of problems depends on the amount and kind of chemicals. The types of soil and the amount of water moving through the soil also play a role.

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Drinking Water Filters

Safe Well Water - Naturally Occuring Pollutants

Since this is new blog on drinking water safety and health, I thought it would be appropriate to start by discussing what possible contaminants could be in water. The information in this post is about naturally occuring pollutants in well water and it comes straight from the EPA website.

The EPS doesn't regulate well water, nor test it, so it's up to each individual well owner to know what's in the water that's being served by the well.

EPA > Water > Safewater > Private Drinking Water Wells > Human Health: "What are Some Naturally Occurring Sources of Pollution?

Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, parasites and other microorganisms are sometimes found in water. Shallow wells - those with water close to ground level - are at most risk. Runoff, or water flowing over the land surface, may pick up these pollutants from wildlife and soils. This is often the case after flooding. Some of these organisms can cause a variety of illnesses. Symptoms include nausea and diarrhea. These can occur shortly after drinking contaminated water. The effects could be short-term yet severe (similar to food poisoning) or might recur frequently or develop slowly over a long time.

Radionuclides: Radionuclides are radioactive elements such as uranium and radium. They may be present in underlying rock and ground water
Radon: Radon is a gas that is a natural product of the breakdown of uranium in the soil � can also pose a threat. Radon is most dangerous when inhaled and contributes to lung cancer. Although soil is the primary source, using household water containing Radon contributes to elevated indoor Radon levels. Radon is less dangerous when consumed in water, but remains a risk to health.
Nitrates and Nitrites: Although high nitrate levels are usually due to human activities (see below), they may be found naturally in ground water. They come from the breakdown of nitrogen compounds in the soil. Flowing ground water picks them up from the soil. Drinking large amounts of nitrates and nitrites is particularly threatening to infants (for example, when mixed in formula).

Heavy Metals: Underground rocks and soils may contain arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium. However, these contaminants are not often found in household wells at dangerous levels from natural source"

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Information provided by Home Water Filters and Drinking Water Safety. Compare faucet mounted water filters, pitcher water filters, portable water bottle filters, shower filters, refrigerator water filters, under counter water filters, fluoride water filters, or whole home water filtration systems. Learn more about carbon filters and reverse osmosis.

Drinking Water Filters