Drinking water of 97 million Americans contaminated with unregulated chemicals: study

Let this sink in.

More than 97 million Americans are exposed to toxic and unregulated contaminants in their drinking water that can harm their health, according to a new study that adds to growing concerns about the quality of US tap water.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets legal limits for over 90 contaminants in drinking water. In their new research, scientists at the nonprofit Silent Spring Institute found that 27% of the 4,800 public water systems they analyzed had detectable levels of at least one of four “harmful” types of chemicals not regulated by the EPA.

The featured Silent Spring chemicals are:

• The industrial solvent 1,4-dioxane, a “probable” carcinogen that can cause severe kidney and liver damage and possibly death at high exposure levels
• Colorless refrigerant chlorodifluoromethane (Freon 22), which can cause severe irritation, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness and even death
• The cleaning solvent and degreaser 1,1-dichloroethane, which may increase the risk of kidney cancer and other cancers with chronic exposure
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” are linked to various health concerns, including a higher risk of certain cancers

Silent Spring compiled EPA data from 2013 to 2015 for its analysis. Study co-author Laurel Schaider, a senior scientist at Silent Spring, told The Post that the EPA is doing another round of testing, but that the data is not yet available.

There are more than 12,000 types of PFAS – and current testing methods cannot detect them all.

The EPA announced in April that it will begin regulating six types of PFAS in drinking water in 2029 to reduce exposure for 100 million people.

Silent Spring found that Hispanic and black Americans are at higher risk of exposure to contaminants in drinking water because they are more likely to live near sources of contamination, such as sewage treatment plants, airports, military training areas and industrial sites.

The study’s findings were published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The research follows the identification of a mysterious, potentially toxic chemical byproduct found in the treated drinking water consumed by millions of Americans.

How to reduce your exposure to PFAS in drinking water

If you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water, Schaider suggests contacting your local water utility or health department to see if your water has been tested for PFAS and other contaminants.

You can also treat your water at home with one of these two systems:

• Granulated activated carbon (GAC) or solid carbon block filters excel at removing long-chain PFAS (such as PFOA and PFOS, the two most commonly found in water), but are less successful at capturing varieties with shorter chain, Schaider said.
• Reverse osmosis is considered the most effective technology for removing a wide range of PFAS, including short-chain chemicals. However, it is the most expensive option and produces a significant amount of wastewater, Schaider added.

“When choosing a filter system, look for one that is NSF P473 certified or that meets NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for activated carbon filters and NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for reverse osmosis,” Schaider noted. “Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and replace cartridges or membranes as recommended.”

Schaider said bottled water may not be a better option since many bottling companies get their water from municipal water supplies.

There is no federal requirement that they test or treat their water for PFAS, so you may want to check with your state’s environmental or health department to see if any testing is done.