Key TakeawaysArsenic in drinking water systems presents environmental justice and public health concerns.Community water systems most likely to exceed national maximum contaminant levels are those that serve small populations, are located in the Southwest, and serve Hispanic communities.Arsenic levels are higher in groundwater systems, where arsenic occurs naturally.

Key Takeaways

Arsenic in drinking water systems presents environmental justice and public health concerns.Community water systems most likely to exceed national maximum contaminant levels are those that serve small populations, are located in the Southwest, and serve Hispanic communities.Arsenic levels are higher in groundwater systems, where arsenic occurs naturally.

Despite efforts to reduce the amount ofarsenicin drinking water systems across the U.S., not all communities have benefited from these efforts equally.

A study published in the journalEnvironmental Health Perspectivesearlier this month describes the regions in which arsenic remained prevalent in public drinking water supplies after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adjusted its regulations in 2006.Researchers found that smaller communities in the Southwest, places reliant on groundwater systems, and Hispanic communities were more likely to have continued high levels of arsenic contamination.

The findings can help public health researchers and regulatory agencies like the EPA understand the efficacy of new water regulations and target regions continuing to exceed the maximum contamination levels.

“This is a critical question in thinking about environmental justice and injustice,” Anne Nigra, a graduate student at Columbia University in New York and primary author of the paper, tells Verywell. “It’s important in thinking about targeting public health interventions and additional support and regulatory enforcement to make sure we don’t have any communities in the U.S. that are at problematic levels of arsenic in drinking water.”

What This Means For YouIf you suspect a problem with arsenic levels in your water supply at home and your water comes from a private well, the CDC recommends contacting yourstate certification officerfor a list of laboratories in your area that can test your water for a fee. From there, treatments can be done to the faucet if levels are found to be too high.

What This Means For You

If you suspect a problem with arsenic levels in your water supply at home and your water comes from a private well, the CDC recommends contacting yourstate certification officerfor a list of laboratories in your area that can test your water for a fee. From there, treatments can be done to the faucet if levels are found to be too high.

A Dangerous Contaminant

Arsenic is the most significant chemical contaminant in drinking water around the world, reports the World Health Organization.The inorganic arsenic compounds found in drinking water can be highly problematic to human health, and chronic exposure can cause skin lesions and skin cancer among other problems.

Arsenic can enter groundwater systems naturally when it dissolves from certain rock formations. Agricultural and industrial processes such as copper smelting and mining can also release arsenic into the environment, where it can remain for a long time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“There is no safe level of arsenic exposure,” Nigra says. “We know that even at these lower to moderate levels of arsenic exposure, we have increasing evidence of arsenic’s impact on a variety of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular disease, low birth weight. But the most concerning outcome for arsenic, of course, is cancer.”

The Research

The research team sought to estimate the level of arsenic exposure in water systems across the U.S. and to locate exposure inequalities between communities. They used data from the EPA’s six-year review contaminant occurrence data set to estimate arsenic exposure in public water systems. The data tracks more than 36,000 community water systems, representing 98% of all community water systems in the country, from 2006-2008 and 2009-2011.

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Nigra says her team observed a decline in arsenic concentration levels in many water systems across these time periods. In New England, for example, there was a 37% decrease between 2006 and 2011.

The research team also identified different sociodemographic subgroups. They found that Hispanic semi-urban communities saw the highest sustained levels of exposure of all groups.

“We’re building this very troubling picture where semi-urban Hispanic communities, especially those in the Southwest, not only are they getting elevated arsenic exposure from their diet but now we have this data that indicate they are also exposed to elevated arsenic levels in their drinking water,” Nigra says. “That’s a real issue moving forward because frankly the research on Hispanic and Latinx communities when it comes to arsenic exposure is lacking.”

Amending Inequalities

When the EPA sets regulatory standards, it must consider the economic impact and feasibility of creating water treatment services to meet the new restrictions. Nigra says that because of this, the maximum contamination level is often greater than what is best for public health.

States are able to set their own, stricter, regulatory measures. New Jersey and New Hampshire, for example, have a maximum contamination level of 5 micrograms per liter, compared to the federal limit of 10 micrograms per liter.

“We know that the economic benefit of reducing arsenic and lead exposure in drinking water far outweighs the cost to implement those reduction strategies,” Nigra says.

Moving forward, she says it’s important to continue researching and implementing strategies to decrease exposure inequalities.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nigra A, Chen Q, Chillrud S et al.Inequalities in public water arsenic concentrations in counties and community water systems across the United States, 2006–2011.Environ Health Perspect. 2020;128(12):127001. doi:10.1289/ehp7313Environmental Protection Agency.Complying with the revised drinking water standard for arsenic: small entity compliance guide.World Health Organization.Arsenic.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arsenic and drinking water from private wells.Ropeik A.Dozens of N.H. water systems may need new arsenic treatment under lower limit. nhpr.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nigra A, Chen Q, Chillrud S et al.Inequalities in public water arsenic concentrations in counties and community water systems across the United States, 2006–2011.Environ Health Perspect. 2020;128(12):127001. doi:10.1289/ehp7313Environmental Protection Agency.Complying with the revised drinking water standard for arsenic: small entity compliance guide.World Health Organization.Arsenic.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arsenic and drinking water from private wells.Ropeik A.Dozens of N.H. water systems may need new arsenic treatment under lower limit. nhpr.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nigra A, Chen Q, Chillrud S et al.Inequalities in public water arsenic concentrations in counties and community water systems across the United States, 2006–2011.Environ Health Perspect. 2020;128(12):127001. doi:10.1289/ehp7313Environmental Protection Agency.Complying with the revised drinking water standard for arsenic: small entity compliance guide.World Health Organization.Arsenic.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arsenic and drinking water from private wells.Ropeik A.Dozens of N.H. water systems may need new arsenic treatment under lower limit. nhpr.

Nigra A, Chen Q, Chillrud S et al.Inequalities in public water arsenic concentrations in counties and community water systems across the United States, 2006–2011.Environ Health Perspect. 2020;128(12):127001. doi:10.1289/ehp7313

Environmental Protection Agency.Complying with the revised drinking water standard for arsenic: small entity compliance guide.

World Health Organization.Arsenic.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arsenic and drinking water from private wells.

Ropeik A.Dozens of N.H. water systems may need new arsenic treatment under lower limit. nhpr.

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