Drinking water treatment that pursues a multi-regular approach, to deal with multiple pollutants, can prevent more than 50,000 lifetime cancer cases in the US, find a new colleague-review study by the environmental work group.

The discovery challenges the ability to contaminate a tap water at a time, regulate the long -running practice of the states and the federal government.

Published in The Paper, Journal Environmental researchEWG scientists analyzed more than a decade of data of more than 17,000 community water systems. They found that two cancer-causing chemicals-arsenic and hexavulant appear simultaneously in chromium, or chromium-6-offer system and can be treated using the same technologies.

If the water system with chromium -6 contamination also reduces arsenic levels from 27% to 42%, then it can avoid quadrupling the number of cancer cases compared to only reduce the level of chromium -6, it has been found in the study.

Treatment of drinking water for a contamination, such as nitrate, has advantages for public health. But dealing with many contaminants at a time increases health benefits. And those benefits can be expanded with the number of pollutants treated at the same time.

Drinking water is mostly contaminated in blends, but our regulatory system still works as they appear one at a time. This research suggests that treating many contaminants simultaneously can prevent tens of cancer cases. ,

Senior scientist in Tasha Stoiber, PhD, EWG and head writer of studies

Chromium -6 and arsenic are commonly found in drinking water in US Chromium -6, 251 million Americans are found in drinking water served.

Stober said, “Addressing co-opinions is scientifically the most sound approach, as well as a efficient way to protect public health.”

In California alone, about eight out of 10 preventive cancer cases are associated with arsenic exposure.

Arizona, California and Texas carry the most burden of arsenic pollution and benefit the most from multi-relative water treatment efforts.

Health risk of water contaminant

Toxic chemicals such as chromium -6, arsenic and nitrates pose the greatest risk for children, pregnant people and people living in small communities that are served by groundwater -dependent water systems. Systems that serve these population often rely only on a water source and there is a lack of resources to demand better treatment despite facing the most serious health loss in small communities.

Chromium -6

This cancer -causing chemicals, which have been maligned by the film “Erin Brokovic”, have been associated with serious health risks. Studies suggest that even low levels in drinking water may increase the risk of stomach cancer, liver damage and reproductive damage.

In 2008, the laboratory animals that are exposed to chromium -6 in water in the national toxic science program found a huge rate of stomach and intestinal tumors. Researchers in California later confirmed the high risk of stomach cancer in workers that were exposed.

Environmental Protection Agency does not limit the amount of chromium -6 in drinking water. It regulates total chromium, including chromium -6 and mostly harmless chromium -3. The total chromium for drinking water is set on 100 parts per billion, or PPB.

Hartal

Arsenic is found in drinking water in all 50 states. It occurs in natural deposits and as a result of human activities such as mining and pesticides. Long -term risk is associated with severe health issues, including bladder, lungs, and skin cancer, as well as heart and developmental damage.

The legal federal limit for arsenic in drinking water is 10 PPB, which is based on chronic cost estimates for treatment in 2001, not the safest for health. California’s public health goal is only 0.004 PPB, level scientists say that there will be no significant cancer risk in a lifetime.

Arsenic can also contaminate certain foods, especially rice and rice-based products, making clean water standards more important to reduce overall exposure.

Nitrate

Nitrate is one of the most common drinking water contributors, especially below agricultural areas where it enters the water supply through fertilizer and compost runoff. It is also found in private wells, often near farms or septic systems.

Drinking water is associated with serious health risks exposed to nitrate, including colorectal and ovarian cancer, very preterm birth, low birth weight and nerve tube defects.

EPA set a limit of nitrate in 10 parts in 1992 to prevent “Blue Baby Syndrome”.

But it has not updated the standard in more than 30 years. New research suggests that cancer and birth -related losses can occur at the level below the legal limit. European studies have increased the risk of cancer at the level of 10 times lower nitrate than the EPA limit.

“Ensuring clean drinking water for all communities is about fairness and equity,” said Sydney Evans, MPH, Senior Science analyst and co-writer of the new study said.

“Communities in the US who rely on ground water are often affected by these contaminants. New water treatment technologies give a chance to improve water quality overall. It strengthens the matter for action and investment.”

Call for smart water rules

Federal regulations still evaluate the cost and profit of water treatment on an institutional basis, a model EWG reports old and disabled calls.

Small and rural water systems often face per capita costs to implement new treatment technologies. But they are the most exposed to pollutants and related risks.

These systems often have a lack of funding and technical support to upgrade the infrastructure of aging, causing exposure to serious health hazards to the residents. This level of vulnerability asks for new strategies for these communities – increase in funding together with more effective rules.

For example, nitrate, often found with chromium -6 in drinking water, represents a major but unseen opportunity for health protection.

“Nitrate pollution is a public health crisis, especially in midwests, but across the country.” “The federal nitrate border was determined decades ago to prevent infant deaths, but now we know that cancer and birth complications see at the level of nitrate below that old standard.

“Even reduced nitrates may prevent hundreds of cancer cases and save millions of dollars in health care costs, especially when associated with treatment for other contaminants such as chromium -6 and arsenic,” he said. “There is a real cost for inaction – our health and our purse cannot wait for better treatment.”

Lowering nitrate levels can prevent 130 cancer cases each year and saving $ 35 million in the cost of health care. Proven technologies such as ion exchange and reverse osmosis, which have already been used today, can remove nitrate, chromium -6 and arsenic at the same time.

Acting Chief Science Officer David Andrews said at EWG, “It is more than clean water – it is about protecting health and advancing equity.” “We have engineering solutions to fix the broken drinking water system in the US, but we need state and federal policies to reflect the reality that comes forward to real people when turning on the tap.”

Concerned about chemicals in your tap water, consumers can install a water filter to help reduce contact with contaminants. The home filter system that is the most effective for removing chromium -6, arsenic and nitrate from water is reverse osmosis. The ion exchange technique is another option to reduce the level of these contaminated materials.

EWG’s water filter guide has more information about the options available. It is important to replace the water filter on time. Old filters are not safe, as they disturb bacteria and let go through contaminants.

People can also find the National Tap Water Database of EWG to find out which contaminants are found in their tap water.