Getting the Important Facts on Arsenic

Whether you get your drinking water from a public water treatment plant or you have your own water well, you should aware of possible signs that your water is contaminated with too much arsenic. Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance, but too much of it in your drinking water can cause serious health risks and even loss of life. Check out these important facts on arsenic and if you recognize signs of excessive arsenic, call your local water professionals for possible arsenic water treatment systems to solve the problem.

 

Arsenic Distribution

 

Arsenic can get into drinking water through a number of ways. It can flow from natural arsenic deposits in the ground, from industrial or agricultural processes, or from dust in the wind. Industrial processes can also produce arsenic, as it is used in dyes, paints, soaps, drugs and semiconductors. Any of these substances released into the environment could leak arsenic into water. In addition, arsenic can also be released due to brines created by gas and oil drilling, smelting, forest fires, volcanic activity, or rock erosion. Generally, groundwater sources are more likely to need arsenic water treatment systems, as greater amounts of arsenic are found in groundwater than in surface water bodies like rivers, ponds and lakes. Also, arsenic is more likely to be found in bedrock in certain regions of the United States, like places in Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, as well as locations in the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest.

 

Effects on Health

 

Arsenic is very toxic to human beings and can cause both short and long term health problems. Low levels of arsenic can create lesions in the skin, skin thickenings and changes in color, diarrhea and other maladies. Greater exposure can result in cancers of the nasal passages, skin, bladder, liver, the lungs, the kidneys and the prostate. Other health problems include nausea, stomach pain, nausea, numbness of the feet or hands, diabetes, hair loss, blindness and partial paralysis. Communities that need arsenic water treatment systems to purify their drinking water are likely to see increased reports of these health incidents.

 

Public and Private Water

 

Municipal and private water companies are responsible for testing arsenic in your drinking water. Should the arsenic level exceed safety limits, they are required to issue you a notice not to drink the water. If the arsenic escalation is serious enough to cause immediate health problems, you will be notified via television, radio and internet media of the problem. However, if you have your own private water supply, you are responsible for the water’s maintenance and testing. Arsenic levels can vary according to season, so test it in the late part of summer and in early spring to scout out possible fluctuations in the arsenic content. If it exceeds the public standard for arsenic levels, call in water professionals to implement arsenic water treatment systems on your well water.

 

Proper vigilance will help protect you and your family from possible arsenic dangers, particularly if you have your own private source of water. Nonetheless, anyone should be aware of signs that their drinking water has issues, and contact water professionals to handle the issue.