| The U.S. manufactures, or imports, well over 87,000 | | | | unregulated chemicals, is served to over 195 million |
| chemicals a year and 3,000 of them are produced in | | | | people in 42 states. |
| quantities in excess of a million pounds. That's three | | | | The EWG concluded, "The Agency has fallen short in |
| billion pounds from just those 3,000 chemicals! In this | | | | efforts both to require the testing that would reveal |
| article we will look at some frightening research that | | | | what pollutants are in tap water supplies, and to set |
| shows these chemicals, and a lot of other toxic | | | | health-based standards for those that are found. |
| pollutants, are ending up in our bodies, and what you | | | | They went on to point out that the EPA failed to act |
| must do to protect yourself and your family. | | | | on its own information, showing that increased |
| In a recent article I was reading, European | | | | testing is justified. The Agency's own scientists have |
| Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom noted | | | | identified 600 carcinogenic chemicals in tap water |
| that a British doctor once told her each of us has | | | | which are by-products of chlorine and other |
| roughly 300-400 synthetic substances in our bodies. | | | | disinfectants. |
| Her curiosity piqued, she later participated in a limited | | | | In order to protect the public from water-borne |
| screening. Her body contained 28 of the 77 chemicals | | | | disease, it is crucial our water be disinfected and |
| tested for, including PCB and DDT, which had been | | | | chlorine is usually the poison of choice. As mentioned |
| banned in Europe for over 20 years. | | | | above, collectively, 600 disinfection by-products have |
| Her doctor's comment, along with her screening | | | | been identified in tap water in the U.S. |
| results, got me to thinking about what we might be | | | | And it seems ironic that in order to reduce the risk |
| experiencing here in the U.S., especially with our | | | | of infectious disease from germs in our tap water, |
| children. | | | | water utilities add a poison that increases the risks of |
| I found some interesting research done by the | | | | cancer and heart disease. Chlorine was the health |
| Environmental Working Group (EWG) on umbilical cord | | | | miracle of the 20th century, but 100 years after |
| blood from 10 babies selected at random from | | | | chlorine was first poured into our tap water supplies |
| hospitals around the U.S. Blood tests revealed a total | | | | the EPA still does little more than regulate the |
| of 287 chemicals in this group of children. The EWG | | | | amount of chlorine allowed to be dumped in and |
| stated that had they tested for a broader array of | | | | almost nothing to stop its deadly affect. |
| chemicals they would have certainly found far more | | | | It's clear, what is in our tap water is getting inside of |
| than 287. | | | | us, and our children, and we cannot afford to wait |
| Of the 287 chemicals detected, they found 180 that | | | | another 100 years for the government to act. The |
| cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 that are toxic | | | | only way for us to protect ourselves is to buy |
| to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause | | | | bottled water or filter our own water at home. |
| birth defects or abnormal development in animal | | | | But, bottled water is expensive, and test after test |
| tests. Included in these chemicals were 14 pesticides | | | | show, due to lax regulations, we have no assurance |
| whose use had been phased out in the U.S. and it | | | | bottled water is any better than tap water. It also |
| was likely the babies received them from their | | | | leaves a big carbon footprint from manufacturing and |
| mother's bodies. | | | | delivering the bottles, and is an environmental disaster |
| Fighting an uphill battle against hundreds of toxic | | | | for landfills. |
| chemicals is no way for a child to have to start life. | | | | Plus it just galls me to have to pay twice for my |
| EWG analyzed over 22 million tap water quality tests | | | | drinking water. |
| from around the country and detected 260 | | | | All things considered, the best way to go is to get a |
| contaminants in the public water supplies. Public water | | | | good water filter for your home. You can filter out all |
| quality safety standards are regulated by the | | | | the contaminants mention in this article for just |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and they | | | | pennies a gallon and have the satisfaction of knowing |
| have no health-based limits on 141 of the 260 | | | | your children and grandchildren are being protected. |
| contaminants found. This water, contaminated with | | | | |