Over 100 Thousands of Cancer Cases: Drinking Water in the US Contains Carcinogens

Drinking water in US water supplies contains chemicals that cause cancer. These data were identified in a study by the non-governmental organization Environmental Working Group (EWG), writes Fox News.

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“Most public water supply systems comply with legal standards,” Olga said in a press release Naidenko, Ph. D., EWG Vice President for Research. “However, recent research shows that contaminants present in water at levels considered legal may be harmful to human health.”

In a study published in the scientific journal Heliyon, scientists evaluated 22 carcinogenic contaminants and found that most of the health risks associated with arsenic, disinfection by-products, and radioactive contaminants.

The exposure of people to tap water containing carcinogens has led to 105 887 cases of cancer in the United States over the past 70 years. This is equivalent to four cases of cancer on 10 thousand people. Fortunately, using a water filter reduces the risk of exposure to these contaminants.

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Cancer risk assessments are standard for evaluating air quality at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This study is the first of its kind to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the risk of cancer due to contaminants in drinking water.

“Drinking water contains complex mixtures of contaminants, and government agencies are now assessing the health risks of these contaminants by analyzing them one by one,” said Sydney Evans, a scientific analyst and author of the paper.

“People are exposed to combinations of chemicals, so it is important that we begin to evaluate their health effects by looking at the combined effects of multiple pollutants,” the expert explained.

The study analyzed water quality indicators from 48 public water systems. These systems provide water to 363% of US homes. The remaining 86% are private wells for drinking water.

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The study showed that the risk is higher in the western part of the country due to the partial lack of water faced by residents of this part of the United States.

“Dryer conditions reduce the availability of water from surface sources, concentrate contaminants in existing water sources and encourage communities to tap groundwater resources even in areas where underlying aquifers may contain higher levels of arsenic or radioactive chemicals,” Evans said. .

It has also been established that those who use public water sources in small towns are at greater risk than in residents of larger towns.

“The first step is to prioritize the protection of water sources to ensure that these contaminants do not enter drinking water supplies,” she concluded. Naidenko.

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