American tap water should be safe. However, the risk of disease development can be increased due to the level of contaminants of drinking water, where millions of Americans are still passed by federal regulators.
The Environmental Protection Bureau has set the maximum level of legal water in drinking water. About 90 contaminantsUse permissions according to safe drinking water. However, many of these rules are old -fashioned and do not depend on the latest science or ongoing public health problems.
Therefore, the legal limit does not always mean a safe limit. The most commonly detected contaminants in drinking water are the following are as follows.
PFA
PFA It is a group of fluorine chemicals used for hundreds of products, from waterproof fiber and cosmetics to firefighting equipment and firefighting forms. PFA, known as “Forever Chemicals,” is not decomposed in the environment and can be accumulated in our body.
PFA can especially affect the immune system and is related to cancer. As PFA exists in Suwon, including rivers, lakes, and groundwater, there are contaminated tap water throughout the United States. wildlife. Filtering water is one of the easiest ways to reduce exposure to PFA.
Sterilization
It is necessary to disinfect drinking water so that the microorganisms that cause disease do not hurt us. However, if the goat or chloramine is used to handle water, harmful disinfected by -products can be formed.
These by-product It is associated with the increase in the risk of cancer and damage during pregnancy. Simple carbon filters can effectively remove disinfected by -products from water used for drinking and cooking.
nitrate
nitrate It is one of the most common pollutants in tap water and is the most common in groundwater because it does not decrease when it enters groundwater. It comes from fertilizer or livestock manure that washed the farm field with a drinking water.
In more population, nitrates of rainwater leakage and wastewater treatment plants can also contaminate drinking water.
Research shows that nitrate of tap water is associated with cancer and reproductive damage. Yeoksam to filter is the most effective in reducing nitrate in tap water.
Heavy metals including arsenic and hexagonal chromium
Heavy metals can be particularly a problem if tap water comes out of the groundwater. for example, arsenic It is a powerful carcinogenic substance and can increase the risk of cancer by eating a small amount. Water can be contaminated in human activities such as natural minerals and mining and industrial purposes.
Hexagonor Chrome -6Carcinogens are another metal that can contaminate groundwater from industrial pollution. California has recently passed the limit to Chromium-6 in drinking water, but despite the widespread and cancer of the metal, the federal government did not. It contaminates more drinking water 250 million gringo.
Radiation
Radiation Like radium and uranium, it enters tap water from natural sediment, but can also be released as mining and drilling. Radiation of tap water can be dangerous and can cause damage during pregnancy. There are six radiation contaminants, but the most common is Radium -226 and Radium -228. EPA’s drinking water restrictions on these contaminants are old -fashioned, and if the level of exposure is low, the risk of cancer can increase.
Volatile organic compound
Trichlorethylene, or TCEIt is a type of volatile organic compound VOC,,, It was used as a metal degrowth or dry cleaning. TCE’s industrial emissions are contaminated with tap water. Like many VOCs, TCE is associated with increasing risk of cancer and congenital defects.
What you can do
Measures to reduce exposure to these contaminants. The first step is to find out about water.
Use EWG Tap water database. Enter your postal code to find a detailed report on the contaminants in the local water source.
Invest in household purification filters. The right filter reduces the risk of long -term health problems, such as increasing water quality and harming child health.
Contact local officials. Tell them that the safety of your drinking water is an important issue for you.
