December 29, 2013
by: Ethan A. Huff
Source: Natural News
(NaturalNews) You may want to think twice before further drinking or
even bathing in unfiltered tap water, as a new report set to be
published next year has found that a striking percentage of the U.S.
water supply is contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides and other
toxic chemicals. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that an astounding
one-third of U.S. water systems contain traces of at least 18
unregulated and potentially hazardous contaminants, many of which are
linked to causing endocrine disruption and cancer.
Based on a
nationwide survey of 25 unnamed water utilities, scientists found traces
of the herbicide metolachlor, for instance, a pesticide commonly
applied to conventional corn, soy, cotton, safflower, potato and other
crops, as well as the heavy metal strontium, which is linked to causing
bone problems. Other chemicals identified include so-called
perfluorinated compounds like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which
numerous scientific studies have found can cause thyroid disease and
various types of cancer.
"Traces of 18 unregulated chemicals were
found in drinking water from more than one-third of U.S. water
utilities in a nationwide sampling," reports
Environmental Health News
(EHN). "Included are 11 perfluorinated compounds, an herbicide, two
solvents, caffeine, an antibacterial compound, a metal and an
antidepressant."
More than 250 potential hazardous compounds detected in tap water
Among the 25 water samples, more than 250 chemicals, bacteria, viruses
and microbes were identified, but only 134 of these were detected in
treated drinking
water.
As many as eight of the treated water samples collected contained
upwards of 113 chemicals. According to the researchers, water samples
were taken from a range of water utilities, including both large and
small plants and plants using varying treatment technologies.
"The good
news
is the concentrations are generally pretty low," stated Dana Kolpin, a
research hydrologist from USGS who helped work on the study. "But
there's still the unknown. Are there long-term consequences of low-level
exposure to these chemicals?"
Study reveals most water treatment technologies do not remove perfluorinated compounds
Of particular concern was the wide range of perfluorinated compounds
identified in the water samples. These byproducts of various industrial
processes, including the production of non-stick cookware and
stain-resistant food packing and fabrics, was detected in most of the
water samples, both treated and untreated.
"The
perfluorinated compounds
were at similar concentrations in the untreated and treated drinking
water, suggesting that treatment techniques are largely unsuccessful,"
writes Brian Bienkowski for EHN. "Only one plant was successful at
removing them, and it used activated carbon treatment."
This is
all highly concerning, as a panel of scientists recently concluded that
perfluorinated compounds, and PFOA in particular, are a probable cause
of high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular
cancer, kidney cancer and pregnancy-induced hypertension, among other
conditions. Many of th(NaturalNews) You may want to think twice before further drinking or
even bathing in unfiltered tap water, as a new report set to be
published next year has found that a striking percentage of the U.S.
water supply is contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides and other
toxic chemicals. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that an astounding
one-third of U.S. water systems contain traces of at least 18
unregulated and potentially hazardous contaminants, many of which are
linked to causing endocrine disruption and cancer.
Based on a
nationwide survey of 25 unnamed water utilities, scientists found traces
of the herbicide metolachlor, for instance, a pesticide commonly
applied to conventional corn, soy, cotton, safflower, potato and other
crops, as well as the heavy metal strontium, which is linked to causing
bone problems. Other chemicals identified include so-called
perfluorinated compounds like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which
numerous scientific studies have found can cause thyroid disease and
various types of cancer.
"Traces of 18 unregulated chemicals were
found in drinking water from more than one-third of U.S. water
utilities in a nationwide sampling," reports
Environmental Health News
(EHN). "Included are 11 perfluorinated compounds, an herbicide, two
solvents, caffeine, an antibacterial compound, a metal and an
antidepressant."
More than 250 potential hazardous compounds detected in tap water
Among the 25 water samples, more than 250 chemicals, bacteria, viruses
and microbes were identified, but only 134 of these were detected in
treated drinking
water.
As many as eight of the treated water samples collected contained
upwards of 113 chemicals. According to the researchers, water samples
were taken from a range of water utilities, including both large and
small plants and plants using varying treatment technologies.
"The good
news
is the concentrations are generally pretty low," stated Dana Kolpin, a
research hydrologist from USGS who helped work on the study. "But
there's still the unknown. Are there long-term consequences of low-level
exposure to these chemicals?"
Study reveals most water treatment technologies do not remove perfluorinated compounds
Of particular concern was the wide range of perfluorinated compounds
identified in the water samples. These byproducts of various industrial
processes, including the production of non-stick cookware and
stain-resistant food packing and fabrics, was detected in most of the
water samples, both treated and untreated.
"The
perfluorinated compounds
were at similar concentrations in the untreated and treated drinking
water, suggesting that treatment techniques are largely unsuccessful,"
writes Brian Bienkowski for EHN. "Only one plant was successful at
removing them, and it used activated carbon treatment."
This is
all highly concerning, as a panel of scientists recently concluded that
perfluorinated compounds, and PFOA in particular, are a probable cause
of high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular
cancer, kidney cancer and pregnancy-induced hypertension, among other
conditions. Many of these conditions have reached epidemic proportions
throughout the U.S., potentially as the direct result of failed water
treatment technologies.
Then there is the issue of chlorination and fluoridation, both of which can trigger reactions with other contaminants in the
water supply
and create new deadly compounds. According to Laurel Schaider, a
research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, these and
other water treatment chemicals may exacerbate the toxic burden of tap
water.
"Chlorination and other treatment technologies will remove
some contaminants, but will react with others," she is quoted as saying
to EHN. "Some compounds may appear to be removed but may be transformed
[into] a chemical we know even less about."
Sources for this article include:http://www.environmentalhealthnews.orghttp://www.environmentalhealthnews.orghttp://www.c8sciencepanel.org
ese conditions have reached epidemic proportions
throughout the U.S., potentially as the direct result of failed water
treatment technologies.
Then there is the issue of chlorination and fluoridation, both of which can trigger reactions with other contaminants in the
water supply
and create new deadly compounds. According to Laurel Schaider, a
research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, these and
other water treatment chemicals may exacerbate the toxic burden of tap
water.
"Chlorination and other treatment technologies will remove
some contaminants, but will react with others," she is quoted as saying
to EHN. "Some compounds may appear to be removed but may be transformed
[into] a chemical we know even less about."
Sources for this article include:http://www.environmentalhealthnews.orghttp://www.environmentalhealthnews.orghttp://www.c8sciencepanel.org
