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Sources, levels, and health risks of arsenic in drinking water throughout the Twin Cities
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15% of wells in the state of Minnesota exceed the maximum contaminant level of arsenic allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 50% of private wells test positive for arsenic in the state of Minnesota, according to data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) programs assessing statewide groundwater quality.
Most cities eliminate arsenic from drinking water, but some municipal water systems in the Twin Cities do struggle with arsenic removal, which is expensive. Cities like Shakopee and Savage have relatively high levels of arsenic in their drinking water, albeit under the current allowable limits set forth by the EPA.
Sources of arsenic
Arsenic is found naturally occurring in very small amounts in some foods such as celery. Arsenic can find its way into the water as a result of human activities such as pesticides operations plants, or can be naturally occurring from the break down of rocks.
What levels of arsenic are found in water?
Arsenic is measured in parts per billion (ppb), which means one part of arsenic per billion parts of water. While this may sound like trace amounts, the issue of what level is safe to ingest is an ongoing, hotly debated national issue.
While the E.P.A. has recently lowered its allowable limit (Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL) of arsenic in municipal water from 50 ppb to 10ppb, arsenic is still one of the most toxic substances found in drinking water.
The Environmental Defense Fund’s Chemical Scorecard ranks arsenic as more hazardous than most chemicals in 10 out of 11 ranking systems.
Health risks of arsenic
High levels of arsenic lead to death. Ingesting it over an extended period of time has been linked to several kinds of cancer, and is classified as a known carcinogen. Even low levels of the inorganic substance have been linked to Type 2 Diabetes.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, “even small amounts of arsenic, if consumed over a long period of time, can cause adverse health effects.”
The EPA warns, “a large number of adverse non-carcinogenic effects have been reported in humans after exposure to drinking water highly contaminated with inorganic arsenic. The earliest and most prominent changes are in the skin, e.g., hyper pigmentation and keratoses (callus-like growths). Other effects that have been reported include alterations in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematological (e.g. anemia), pulmonary, neurological, immunological and reproductive/developmental function.” … “Development of peripheral vascular disease (hardening of the arteries to the arms and legs, that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, infection, gangrene, and clots) after inorganic arsenic exposure has also been reported.” (EPA/Federal Register/Vol. 65 No. 121 – June 22, 2000)
For more information
Arsenicosis, a chronic illness caused by arsenic poisoning
United States Environmental Protection Agency's info on arsenic in drinking water
Minnesota Department of Health
Contaminants in drinking water to which children may be particularly sensitive.
See more articles on water and health and contaminants in drinking water in the Twin Cities by Angela Schnaubelt, Twin Cities Water Examiner.
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