lated yet, and what data are available on the possible health effects of both:
toxic (poisonous to living things), carcinogenic (cancer-causing), teratogenic
(causing abnormal Offspring in the next generation), and mutagenic (harmful
to future generations) [12]. it was determined that 66 organic chemicals re—
ported in the literature have been found in fresh water and that 15 of the 33
of these tested for carcinogenicity caused cancer. Another 87 organic chem—
icals suspected of being water contaminants were tested for carcinogenicity,
and 17 of these were found to cause cancer. Many of the same compounds
were also mutagenic or teratogenic. in addition, 343 chemical compounds
suspected of being water contaminants have not yet been investigated either
to determine whether they are actually in drinking water supplies or to learn
what their potential effects on health might be. Thus, 496 organic chemicals
have been found to be or are suspected to be contaminating water in various
parts of the United States. With new chemicals being produced every year,
this number can be expected to increase—in fact, it has probably already in—
creased since the EPA report was published in 1970.
In light of these hazards, how safe is water for the average consumer? The
nationwide studies of drinking water that have been conducted have dealt
primarily with contaminants regulated by the PHS 1962 drinking water
standards, which generally have been incorporated into state standards as
well. There are as yet no individual standards for any of the 496 industrial
chemicals mentioned above, and the limitations of the standard for organics
has already been noted.
The direct health threats of a number of chemicals, both organic and in—
organic, can be expected to increase if present industrial and agricultural
trends continue. Appendix Table 2 shows that 19 community water systems
in
the 1969 PHS survey contained excessive amounts of nitrate. These commu—
nities were not identied, but other studies indicate that the problem has
arisen primarily in agricultural communities relying on wells or on river wa—
ter that has traversed heavily fertilized areas as a source of water. The rise in
the nitrate content of water in the Illinois farm country has already been
mentioned. Increases have also been found in ground water in Nassau
County, Long Island [13], and in the San _Ïoaquin Valley, California [14].
Since World War 11, the production of nitrogen fertilizers has increased
fourteenfold and there has been a 70 percent
increase in sewage nitrogen
[15]. Fertilizers are probably the principal cause of the nitrates in drinking
water, compounded in the San ]oaquin Valley by the use of ground water for
irrigation [16].
Nitrate.
Nitrate as such presents no particular health problem, but nit—
rates may be converted by certain bacteria within the body to nitrites. The
nitrites react with the hemoglobin in red blood cells, causing the cells to lose
their ability to carry oxygen
and thus threatening the body with asphyxiation.
Infants are particularly susceptible to this condition—called mathema—
globinemia—because their gastric juices have a low pH, which creates a suitable environment for the bacteria that convert the nitrates to nitrites, and be—
Chemicol Contamination
155
toxic (poisonous to living things), carcinogenic (cancer-causing), teratogenic
(causing abnormal Offspring in the next generation), and mutagenic (harmful
to future generations) [12]. it was determined that 66 organic chemicals re—
ported in the literature have been found in fresh water and that 15 of the 33
of these tested for carcinogenicity caused cancer. Another 87 organic chem—
icals suspected of being water contaminants were tested for carcinogenicity,
and 17 of these were found to cause cancer. Many of the same compounds
were also mutagenic or teratogenic. in addition, 343 chemical compounds
suspected of being water contaminants have not yet been investigated either
to determine whether they are actually in drinking water supplies or to learn
what their potential effects on health might be. Thus, 496 organic chemicals
have been found to be or are suspected to be contaminating water in various
parts of the United States. With new chemicals being produced every year,
this number can be expected to increase—in fact, it has probably already in—
creased since the EPA report was published in 1970.
In light of these hazards, how safe is water for the average consumer? The
nationwide studies of drinking water that have been conducted have dealt
primarily with contaminants regulated by the PHS 1962 drinking water
standards, which generally have been incorporated into state standards as
well. There are as yet no individual standards for any of the 496 industrial
chemicals mentioned above, and the limitations of the standard for organics
has already been noted.
The direct health threats of a number of chemicals, both organic and in—
organic, can be expected to increase if present industrial and agricultural
trends continue. Appendix Table 2 shows that 19 community water systems
in
the 1969 PHS survey contained excessive amounts of nitrate. These commu—
nities were not identied, but other studies indicate that the problem has
arisen primarily in agricultural communities relying on wells or on river wa—
ter that has traversed heavily fertilized areas as a source of water. The rise in
the nitrate content of water in the Illinois farm country has already been
mentioned. Increases have also been found in ground water in Nassau
County, Long Island [13], and in the San _Ïoaquin Valley, California [14].
Since World War 11, the production of nitrogen fertilizers has increased
fourteenfold and there has been a 70 percent
increase in sewage nitrogen
[15]. Fertilizers are probably the principal cause of the nitrates in drinking
water, compounded in the San ]oaquin Valley by the use of ground water for
irrigation [16].
Nitrate.
Nitrate as such presents no particular health problem, but nit—
rates may be converted by certain bacteria within the body to nitrites. The
nitrites react with the hemoglobin in red blood cells, causing the cells to lose
their ability to carry oxygen
and thus threatening the body with asphyxiation.
Infants are particularly susceptible to this condition—called mathema—
globinemia—because their gastric juices have a low pH, which creates a suitable environment for the bacteria that convert the nitrates to nitrites, and be—
Chemicol Contamination
155