Thursday, April 06, 2006

Naturally Occuring Contaminants in Wells

Naturally occuring contaminants in drinking water from private wells can go undetected until someone in the family gets ill - particularly infants. Children are not just little adults and their bodies are must less able to fend off contaminants than adults - particularly heavy metals like lead which can lead to problems with both mental and physical development.

Private Drinking Water Wells: "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, 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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