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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