A lawsuit filed against Monsanto alleges that the company sold a product they called Roundup containing glyphosate, an herbicide that is linked to causing cancer. The suit claims the chemical is in tap water and enters our food chain through contaminated wheat. What’s more, some U.S cities have found traces of arsenic in their drinking water supply as well; but how much does it actually matter?
The “ewg tap water database — 2021” is a list of what’s in the drinking water across the United States. The database lists arsenic, glyphosate, and more.
Is it time for you to take your daily dosage of arsenic? That may not be a far-fetched question if you reside in one of the 32 states that make up the United States of America. In 2015, 365 public water utilities surpassed the legal limits for the drug, according to a database recently provided by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The EWG examined the water quality of 48,000 public utilities between 2010 and 2015. The EWG’s final database breaks down what’s in the water throughout the country, identifying both EPA-regulated and non-regulated toxins.
In America’s tap water, there are 93 chemicals related to cancer.
According to the Environmental Working Group, there are 93 pollutants related to cancer in our tap water throughout the country.
The website also notifies you whether the pollution level in your water exceeds health recommendations, which are far lower than the federal regulations. Health guidelines are the concentration levels at which experts think might cause injury. More than 80% of water utilities in the United States have unsafe amounts of carcinogens in their drinking water, according to scientific recommendations.
Many of the toxins found are naturally occurring, while others, such as herbicides and benzene, raise concerns about the influence of agricultural and industrial pollution on our water supply.
Disinfection by-products and arsenic are the worst offenders.
TTHMs, compounds that may cause blood cancer or skin cancer, are present in 1.6 million gallons of water used in the United States.
Disinfection by-products and arsenic are two of the most prevalent toxins found in our water that exceed permissible limits.
During water disinfection procedures, disinfectants (such as chlorine) react with naturally existing minerals, resulting in disinfection by-products. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) are formed as a result of this reaction, both of which may be dangerous if taken in significant numbers.
TTHMs and HAA5 exposure may cause cancer and damage prenatal growth and development. Despite this, 1.6 million Americans consume water that exceeds federal TTHM rules, and 658,000 have water that exceeds legal HAA5 levels.
As a consequence of agricultural operations and mining, tap water may get polluted with arsenic, which is naturally found in groundwater.
Poisoning with arsenic may be fatal. Vomiting, stomach discomfort, and diarrhea are all symptoms of poisoning. Heart disease, cancer, and damage to the central nervous system or brain are among long-term problems.
According to the Environmental Working Group, 531,000 Americans have tap water that has more arsenic than the legal limit.
Do Legal Boundaries Ensure Safety?
The EWG and other experts think that ingesting considerably lower doses of these toxins might harm human health, therefore the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act may be deceptive. As a result, they developed new safety criteria to help people understand the safety of their tap water.
Take arsenic, for example. According to the EWG’s benchmark, 70 million people have dangerous levels of arsenic in their water—a significantly higher number than what federal authorities report.
Other substances are considerably more dangerous.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies 1,4-dioxane, a pollutant found in 22% of cosmetics, as a “likely carcinogen.”
There is still no legal limit for 1,4-dioxane. But according to EWG’s guidelines, forty-six states have at least one water utility with alarming levels of 1,4-dioxane, affecting 90 million people.
Agriculture is contaminating our water, according to a database.
Consumers who strive to reduce their pesticide and herbicide exposure by buying organic food may be neglecting one source of exposure: their drinking water.
Agriculture is the biggest source of water contamination, according to the EPA. Runoff from fertilizers and pesticides may contaminate rivers, lakes, and water reservoirs.
Metribuzin (Bayer’s Sencor herbicide), metolachlor (Syngenta’s Dual herbicide), acetochlor (a Monsanto herbicide), and unsafe amounts of atrazine were found in the tap water in Topeka, Kansas, according to the EWG database (made by Syngenta).
In the United States, atrazine is the second most often used herbicide. According to U.C. Berkeley experts, the herbicide has the potential to induce cancer and hormone disruption, as well as alter the sex of frogs. 7.6 million people in the United States have tap water that exceeds atrazine standards set by the EPA.
Roundup, also known as glyphosate, is a pesticide that is even more frequently used than atrazine. In addition to non-lymphoma, Hodgkin’s glyphosate has been related to celiac disease, renal damage, and may even affect embryonic development.
Monsanto, the herbicide’s maker, is accused of withholding information about the herbicide’s health dangers and pressuring EPA experts to publish scientific findings that favor glyphosate. Thousands of agricultural workers have sued Monsanto, claiming that glyphosate is to blame for their non-lymphoma. Hodgkin’s
As further evidence mounts to cast doubt on glyphosate’s safety, three localities, Gilbert, Louisiana, Egan, Louisiana, and Polk City, Florida, are left with glyphosate-contaminated water that exceeds what experts consider safe.
Industrial Pollution Can Be Seen in Tap Water
Agriculture isn’t the only thing that pollutes water. In 2015, enterprises and industries in the United States poured 191 million pounds of chemicals into rivers and streams, some of which provide drinking water.
One of these compounds is chromium-6, which Erin Brockovich notably battled a utility corporation over in Hinkley, California, for water pollution. The chemical has been related to cancer, liver damage, and reproductive system impairment.
Every U.S. state has at least one utility that exceeds the safety recommendations established by scientists, altogether affecting 231 million Americans.
Benzene exposure may diminish white blood cell counts, while 32 water utilities surpass benzene health requirements.
Surprisingly, no federal rules exist for chromium-6. And California is the only state that controls it, despite the fact that the legal limit there is 500 times greater than what experts suggest due to chemical industry demands.
Benzene is another carcinogen that might be linked to industrial pollution. For refinery employees and nearby populations who may breath the contaminant, the chemical is a significant public health hazard.
Benzene is linked to blood cancers like leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Thirty-two water utilities exceed health guidelines for benzene concentration, which may be caused by petroleum spills or wastewater from refineries. But, the number of people affected by benzene could be much higher, as a National Cancer Institute study found that any exposure to benzene could lower white blood cell counts.
What Can You Do to Boost Your Immune System?
Enter your zip code into the tap water database to learn more about what’s in your family’s tap water.
A water filter may remove a wide range of pollutants. Consider writing to your local authorities if there are pollutants in your water that violate federal or health restrictions (the database will inform you).
The “faucet water” is a list of what’s in tap water. This list was created to help people make more informed choices about their drinking water.
Frequently Asked Questions
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