Contaminated-watertreated to avoid Risks to Health
Contaminated-water is that contained in any water body that is not physically separated from the environment and that is not treated, analyzed, declared safe and suitable for drinking. In another page on Water Contamination a short list of Contaminants was presented, indicating that any substance likely to have dangerous effect on the health of living plants or animals should be tagged as Contaminant. Only a few minerals or salts, known for their contribution to healthy life, were excluded from the list that was on purpose kept short, not to tire excessively the readers. In this page on Contaminated-water however, for the sake of completeness, additional information on health effects of contaminated water is displayed for curious persons who may wish to know more on the subject. Health Effects of Contaminated-water Chemical Contaminants As already pointed out, the risk of poisoning to death by toxic substances is not considered immediate even for heavily polluted water because the concentration in Contaminated-water is generally not high enough. However in certain cases the levels of contaminants in drinking water might be sufficient to cause nausea, lung irritation, skin rash, vomiting or dizziness. Chronic health effects are more likely to be caused by Contaminants. These effects become observable long after repeated ingestion of small amounts of chemicals took place. Examples of chronic health effects that could be attributed to contaminants in Contaminated-water include cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous system, damage to the immune system, and birth defects. Although scientific evidence relating chronic health effects to specific contaminants of treated Contaminated-water is limited, scientists may study how a toxic substance has affected people in a community over time. The data from clinical reports may help predict the health risks of adverse effects of chemicals in drinking water. Laboratory animal studies may be used to collect information on the acute and chronic health effects. Among other things animal research helps scientists determine toxic doses and levels below which toxic effects are not observed. For toxic substances not known to cause cancer, scientists use a level of acceptable daily intake to estimate risk. This amount that includes a margin of safety, represents the quantity of a contaminant or toxic substance that humans can in principle consume daily for a lifetime without any known ill effects. For carcinogenic substances there is no safe level, nor a safe amount or concentration in Contaminated-water can be established. Toxicity is estimated by guessing the least acceptable risk at a low concentration level. Regulations are based on a level of risk that is hopefully acceptable. Microbial Pathogens Pathogens, or disease-producing micro-organisms, are serious health risks in Contaminated-water. They include Viruses, Bacteria, Cysts and Parasites. Virus causing Hepatitis A is extremely small and can be transferred in water contaminated by sewage outbreaks. Common symptoms are inflamed liver, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, fever and jaundice. Also Epidemic gastroenteritis virus can be found in contaminated water. Bacteria (such as giardia lamblia) get into drinking water when the water source is contaminated by sewage and animal waste, or when wells are improperly sealed and constructed. They can cause giardiasis, a gastrointestinal infection causing diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas. The presence of coliform bacteria, which is generally a harmless bacteria, may indicate other contamination to the drinking water system. Some microorganisms persist as cysts, e.g. Entamoeba histolytica. Asymptomatic cyst carriers are a major source of infection. Cysts are resistant to disinfectants and they can survive for weeks or months in a moist environment. Parasites are the most frequently identified cause of waterborne diseases. An outbreak of the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, that is a protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, is known to have affected almost half a million people in the US and contributed to one hundred deaths. The symptoms include diarrhea, headache, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and a low fever. Organics Although known to be quite dangerous, only a few of the toxic organic chemicals that occur in drinking water (treated Contaminated-water) are regulated by drinking water standards. This group of contaminants includes:
Possible chronic health effects include cancer, central nervous system disorders, liver and kidney damage, reproductive disorders, and birth defects but it is quite difficult to assess the risks and to establish scientifically based limits. Inorganics These contaminants include toxic metals like arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, and silver. Mercury itself and some mercury compounds have low toxicity. However, they can be changed into the highly toxic methylmercury by microorganisms in the water and in the digestive tracts of animals. Methylmercury penetrates the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in the brain, causing irreversible central nervous system damage. These metals can get into drinking water from natural sources, industrial processes, and the materials used in old plumbing system. Toxic metals are regulated in public water supplies because they can cause acute poisoning, cancer, and other health effects. Nitrate is another inorganic contaminant. The nitrate in mineral deposits, fertilizers, sewage, and animal wastes can contaminate water. Nitrate has been associated with "blue baby syndrome" in infants. A list of Regulated Contaminants and their Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLs) in milligrams per liter (equivalent to part per million) is found in a page on Drinking Water Contaminants, available at The list specifies in great detail the regulated contaminants in the following categories:
The importance of the regulations consists in its establishment of minimum requirements valid at the present state of knowledge. With the collection of new data and their analysis through increased research, it should be expected that the requirements will be slightly modified to reflect improved confidence. Nevertheless for the lay person it should be enough to know that the authorities appointed to provide drinking water and those controlling that they meet the standards, are doing their work generally in a satisfactory way. This does not mean that tap water quality has to be accepted as is by the consumer, always and everywhere, only that it is reasonably safe for healthy adults. On the contrary, it is generally agreed that a simple home filtration system installed at the point of use (the kitchen faucet) To check this recommended alternative please visit our page on Water Purification Water Quality Filter Advice Contact Us Privacy Policy Pure Water Purifiers Blog Please note that the information above is not intended to educate on Health matters. Only trained and certified Physicians should be consulted. For any questions on these arguments please Contact Us. (Sponsored Links) Could you make some use of a little extra income? POWERED BY:
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