Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

Drinking water supplies contain numerous nat-
ural and manmade substances that are harmful to
health. Under the SDWA, the FDA researches the
effects of such contaminants and establishes stan-
dards that keep contaminants either out of drink-

ing water supplies or at levels not expected to

cause health problems in people with a healthy

IMMUNE SYSTEM. These standards may be inade-

quate to protect people who are IMMUNOCOMPRO-

MISED, such as people who have HIV/AIDS. Local

20 Preventive Medicine

HEALTH RISKS OF DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant Potential Health Risks
disinfectants and disinfectant by-products localized irritation, CANCER, neurologic, LIVER, KIDNEY
chlorine, chloramine, chlorite EYE/NOSEirritation,ANEMIA
bromate, haloacetic acid increased cancer risk
trihalomethane increased cancer risk, liver disease, kidney disease, NERVOUS
SYSTEMdysfunction

metals and minerals neurologic, SKIN, kidney, liver, thyroid, circulatory
asbestos INTESTINAL POLYP
arsenic skin and circulatory problems, increased cancer risk
copper liver and kidney damage
cyanide nervous system damage, thyroid dysfunction
lead developmental delays, kidney damage
mercury kidney damage
selenium circulatory damage, HAIRloss

pathogenic microorganisms GASTROENTERITIS(NAUSEA, vomiting, DIARRHEA)
Giardia lamblia(PARASITE) GIARDIASIS
Cryptosporidium(parasite) CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS
Fecal coliform (BACTERIA) generalized gastroenteritis
Escherichia coli(bacteria) E. coligastroenteritis
legionella LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE(PNEUMONIA)

organic chemicals fertilizers, herbicides, industrial chemical
altrazine, carbofuran, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane reproductive dysfunction
(DBCP), dioxin, ethylene dibromide, methoxychlor increased cancer risk
dichloromethane, dichloropropane, heptachlor, liver dysfunction
hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol, anemia and other blood disorders
tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride immune dysfunction, neurologic disturbances, increased cancer
alachlor, carbon tetrachloride, chlordane, chlorobenzene, risk, reproductive dysfunction
dichloroethylene, endrin, ethylbenzene, lindane neurologic disturbances
benzene, simazine, styrene
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

acrylamide, toluene, xylene

radionuclides increased cancer risk
radium 226/228, uranium increase in overall lifetime risk for developing cancer

viruses gastroenteritis
enteroviruses, noroviruses, rotavirus nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea