Drinking Water
In 1999 the National Academy of Sciences concluded that the current drinking water standard for arsenic (50ppb) did not protect people’s health and called for immediate strengthening of the standard.
The EPA announced in March, 2001, that it will withdraw the regulation and leave the 59-year old standard in place (made before health effects were fully understood).
In addition to natural rock deposits, arsenic also gets into our water from mining operations and the use of common wood preservatives for outdoor furniture and play equipment.
The former EPA's proposed arsenic standard of 10ppb is the first time that the EPA has proposed a drinking water standard that is weaker than the "technically feasible level", which in this case is 3ppb.
Arsenic is known to cause skin, lung and bladder cancer in humans, and has been linked to kidney and liver cancer. It can also cause serious skin and vascular disease. Other health effects of arsenic may include low birth weight, spontaneous abortions, birth defects, blood pressure and heart problems.
A coalition of health and environmental groups have been calling for a standard of no higher than 3 ppb. Meanwhile, mining and wood preservative industries and some water suppliers are pushing for a much weaker standard of 20ppb.
