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The presence of toxins in our drinking water
is a primary health issue affecting many communities
in the United States and around the world. Many
times, such toxins pollute the lakes, rivers and
reservoirs that supply our drinking water as a
result of human activity, primarily from the dumping
of industrial waste into our water systems.
Another method by which toxins enter our water
is through pesticide contamination. Pesticides
that are not absorbed by plants or broken up through
other chemical processes can end up contaminating
groundwater. It is these water-soluble pesticides
that pose the greatest health threat to our bodies.
The toxins from such pesticides can cause headaches,
nausea, dizziness, GI tract disorders, nervous
system disorders, convulsions, and even heart
attacks. Long term effects can include cancer
and death.
Toxins often found in water, include:
- Lead: Higher incidence levels of lead poisoning
often arise in areas where the water is contaminated
with industrial waste. Lead can cause high blood
pressure, headaches and even nervous system
disorders.
- Arsenic: Arsenic contamination often occurs
from phosphorus-based fertilizers. It can cause
a number of adverse health conditions, such
as skin lesions. If not treated properly and
on time, this condition can be fatal.
- Chlorinated solvents and heavy metals: Chlorinated
solvents are often seen in industrial waste
water. Drinking water contaminated by chlorinated
solvents and heavy metals can lead to serious
health problems.
- Organic pollutants: A variety of organic pollutants,
such as bacteria, pollute water, making it unsafe
for consumption. Drinking water contaminated
by organic pollutants can lead to a number of
diseases, including malaria, cholera, and typhoid.
The US government has implemented a number of
measures to combat the toxic threat of chemicals
in our water. In areas containing water sources
with traces of pesticides, the Government has
developed new strategies to provide alternative
water sources and has incorporated new technologies
to remove the toxins from the water. In addition,
the Government is more strongly regulating the
use of pesticides, ensuring that farmers and gardeners
do not dump unused pesticides into water systems.
So what else can we do to prevent, or at least
reduce, the risk of developing health problems
from contaminated drinking water? Besides becoming
better educated about the water we’re consuming,
it is becoming ever more important to consume
water only from reliable sources. To help establish
such reliable sources in the home, many consumers
are making use of and installing personal filtration
systems, such as the PUR Water Filtration System
and BRITA. |
