A recent study spearheaded by a scientist from the University of New Mexico, alongside colleagues nationwide, sheds light on the unsettling reality of water safety in the United States.
The research uncovers pervasive issues regarding water contaminant levels across numerous wells and community water systems, posing significant health risks to millions, including a heightened risk of cancer.
Diving into the Contaminants
The publication in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology outlines the presence of seven notorious contaminants in drinking water:
- Arsenic
- Fracking fluids
- Lead
- Nitrates
- Chlorinated disinfection byproducts
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
- Uranium
Many of these contaminants, such as arsenic, nitrates, uranium, and lead, are recognized or potential carcinogens.
Furthermore, sustained exposure to most of these contaminants can result in an array of health issues, including developmental and neurological problems.
Certain communities, notably those on tribal lands or within minority communities, are disparately impacted, and the situation is anticipated to worsen due to climate change, which will further complicate locating safe drinking water sources.
Among the contaminants, some are naturally occurring, such as uranium and arsenic, while others, like PFAS and fracking fluids, are human-induced and pose emerging risks.
PFAS, in particular, can persist in environments for decades without breaking down, representing a monumental challenge that has only recently started to gain the attention it necessitates.
Scale and Complexity
Though the paper focuses on seven contaminants, these merely represent a fragment of the thousands of chemical agents existing in drinking water.
Additionally, the potential co-occurrence of multiple contaminants in a single water source introduces the possibility of synergistic effects, which compounds the complexity and risk.
Infrastructure and Accessibility Disparities
Despite the potential to remove or dilute certain contaminants in larger water systems, many Americans remain unprotected due to limitations in access or infrastructure.
Approximately 150,000 public water systems exist in the U.S., with around one-third being community water systems, serving circa 320 million Americans.
However, 91% of these community water systems cater to fewer than 10,000 people, and over 43 million Americans depend on private wells for their water supply.
The Call to Action
The authors emphasize the urgency to:
- Invest in revamping the U.S. drinking water infrastructure
- Bolster drinking water standards
- Advance and apply enhanced water treatment strategies
- Amplify the collection and dissemination of monitoring data
- Enforce stricter chemical safety testing
Furthermore, climate change, especially in the form of drought, complicates the quest for additional clean water sources, particularly in the western U.S.
Underserved communities, often overlooked in water monitoring, are poised to bear the heaviest burden of this challenge, further entrenching societal and racial injustices.
Conclusion
This study underscores a silent crisis unfolding in the realm of public health, necessitating immediate and robust interventions to safeguard water quality, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Bridging scientific research, policy-making, and community engagement will be pivotal in navigating through the impending challenges and safeguarding a fundamental human right – access to clean and safe water.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
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Source: University of New Mexico
