| Threats to our drinking water are increasing due to our | | | | levels. An excess of nitrate in an infants system can |
| aging water system infrastructure and increased | | | | cause "blue baby syndrome" which can be fatal |
| pollutants invading our water sources. Because the | | | | without immediate medical attention. It has been |
| source of our drinking water varies, the treatment it | | | | recommended that infants, young children, nursing |
| receives before coming to our tap also varies. For | | | | mothers, pregnant women and certain elderly people |
| these reasons, we can no longer take the safety of | | | | use extreme caution.Families using well water as their |
| our drinking water for granted.Some of the more | | | | primary water source are not subject to regulation by |
| common natural sources of pollution | | | | the EPA and therefore face a considerably greater |
| include:microorganisms; underlying rock; nitrates and | | | | risk. Although a water filtration system can be helpful, |
| nitrites; heavy metals found in underground rock that | | | | many serious problems can only be found by testing |
| contains arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and | | | | and go unnoticed.What can you do about it? Using a |
| selenium; and fluoride. Human Activities causing pollution | | | | home water filtration system can help, but you will |
| include: bacteria and nitrates from human and animal | | | | need to do your homework. There are many different |
| wastes, septic tanks and large farms; heavy metals | | | | types of filtration systems available and each has it's |
| from mining construction, and older fruit orchards; | | | | advantages and disadvantages. In June of 1998, CNN |
| fertilizers and pesticides; industrial products and wastes | | | | published an article referencing a study done by The |
| from local factories, industrial plants, gas stations, dry | | | | Center for Environmental Health which used 16 |
| cleaners, leaking underground storage tanks, landfills | | | | different brands of water filtration systems which |
| and waste dumps; household wastes such as cleaning | | | | showed that six brands produced water that |
| solvents, used motor oil, paint, paint thinner, | | | | exceeded the limit for lead, with two (one made by |
| pharmaceuticals (discarded medications flushed down | | | | Franke Inc. of Pennsylvania and Omni Corporation of |
| the toilet); lead and copper; hormones passed into the | | | | Indiana) generated water with readings substantially |
| system through waste.Most of us are familiar with | | | | higher than the limit.If you are considering purchasing a |
| problems caused by ecoli in the water or problems | | | | home filtration system reference on Consumers Guide |
| caused by lead poisoning, but not much is heard about | | | | ( before going to the store. Families using well water |
| problems from hormones or medications that make | | | | should read "Alternative Considerations" Consumer |
| their way back into our drinking water. In truth, little is | | | | Guide ( A general reference for qualities to look for |
| known about the long term effects of pharmaceutical | | | | can be found at World Wise( same holds true for |
| contamination.Hormones fed through the system can | | | | buying water. FDA's rules completely exempt waters |
| create a variety of problems. A study done in the UK | | | | that are packaged and sold within the same state The |
| found that high concentrations of female hormones | | | | FDA also exempts carbonated water and seltzer, and |
| (from women using contraceptive pills) were changing | | | | fewer than half of the states require carbonated |
| the sex of approximately half of all male fish and | | | | waters to meet their own bottled water standards. |
| possibly affected male fertility. Other studies have | | | | The NRDC tested 103 brands of bottled water and |
| shown antidepressants can trigger premature | | | | the results can be viewed at SUMMARY OF NRDCs |
| spawning in shellfish while drugs designed to treat | | | | TEST RESULTS ( concerned about the quality of their |
| heart ailments block the ability of fish to repair | | | | drinking water can take call their state drinking water |
| damaged fins.If a water supplier determines that | | | | program or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800 |
| drinking water has been contaminated, they are | | | | 426-4791) for a list of state certified labs, or purchasing |
| required to inform their customers of any violations | | | | filters certified by NSF International (800 NSF-MARK) |
| within 24 hours. It should be noted that in 2001, one out | | | | to remove the contaminants of special concern to the |
| of every four community water systems did not | | | | consumer (NSF certification is not, however, a |
| conduct testing or report the results of testing which | | | | complete guarantee of |
| could lead to problems that are undetected.The EPA | | | | safety).*********************(c)2004 Karen |
| uses a generalized standard for measuring | | | | ZastudilSources: Water Magazine - Contaminants in |
| contamination of our water which can put some | | | | Water, EPA book "Water On Tap", Water Conditioning |
| groups in jeopardy. Children and infants, the frail and | | | | and Purification Magazine June 2003: Volume 34, |
| elderly, and pregnant women and their unborn babies | | | | Number 6, Friends of the Earth O'Magazine., |
| can face a greater risk to infection. Others who are | | | | NRDCKaren is a graduate of of Cleveland State |
| undergoing chemotherapy, living with HIV/AIDS, and | | | | University and is a freelance writer. Visit her website at |
| transplant patients also faced an increased risk.One | | | | - A site of general interest to women. Topics include: |
| contaminate that concerns me the most is nitrate. | | | | Pregnancy, Children, Parenting, Health and wellness, |
| Nitrate is generally found in fertilizer and puts infants at | | | | Diet and Fitness, Relationships, Money, Travel and |
| immediate risk when it exceeds the national standard | | | | more. |