|
| Contaminant |
Potential Health Effects from
Ingestion of Water Drinking Water |
Sources of Contaminant In
Drinking Water |
| Antimony |
Increase in blood Cholesterol; decrese in blood surgar |
Discharge from petroleum refineries;
fire retardants; ceramics; electronics;
solder |
| Arsenic |
Skin damage or problems with
circulatory systems, and may have
increased risk of getting cancer |
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff
from orchards, runoff from glass &
electronics production wastes |
Asbestos (fiber > 10 micrometers)
|
Increased risk of developing
benign intestinal polyps |
Decay of asbestos cement in water
mains; erosion of natural deposits |
| Barium |
Increase in blood pressure |
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge
from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
| Beryllium |
Intestinal lesions |
Discharge from metal refineries and
coal-burning factories; discharge from
electrical, aerospace, and defense
industries |
| Cadmium |
Kidney damage |
Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion
of natural deposits; discharge from
metal refineries Skin damage or
problems with circulatory systems,
and may have increased risk of getting
cancers; runoff from waste batteries
and paints |
| Chromium (total) |
Allergic dermatitis
|
Discharge from steel and pulp mills;
erosion of natural deposits |
| Copper |
Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress long term exposure' liver or kidney damage |
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; erosion of
natural deposits |
| Cyanide (as free cyanide) |
Nerve damage or thyroid problems
|
Discharge from steel/metal factories;
discharge from plastic and fertilizer
factories |
| Fluoride |
Bone disease (pain and
tenderness of the bones);
Children may get mottled teeth |
Water additive which promotes strong
teeth; erosion of natural deposits;
discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories |
| Lead |
Infants and children: Delays
in physical or mental
development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities Adults: Kidney problems; high blood pressure |
Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; erosion of natural deposits |
| Mercury |
Kidney damage |
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge
from refineries and factories; runoff
from landfills and croplands |
| Nitrate |
Infants below the age of
(measured six months who drink water as Nitrogen) containing nitrite in excess of the MCL could become
seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. |
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
| Selenium |
Hair or fingernail loss; numbness
in fingers or toes; circulatory
problems |
Discharge from petroleum refineries;
erosion of natural deposits; discharge
from mines
|
Thallium
|
Hair loss; changes in blood; kidney, intestine, or liver problems |
Leaching fromore-processing sites;
discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories. |
