Contaminants
Major Contaminants in Utah Drinking Water that Exceed Health Guidelines
Data Source: Utah water utility tests as reported by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Health Guidelines referenced are those established by Environmental Working Group's assessments of yearly and quarterly average levels of contaminants found in U.S. tap water against the federal legal limits and non-enforceable health guidelines published by health and environmental agencies and EWG.
Nitrate
Utahns Affected
2,869,268
Contamination Sources:
-
Human sewage and livestock manure
-
Fertilizers
-
Erosion of natural deposits
Nitrate in drinking water can be responsible for a temporary blood disorder in infants called
methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome).
Studies conducted in the U.S. and in other countries found greater incidence of colorectal, ovarian, thyroid, kidney and bladder cancers among people exposed to nitrate from drinking water. Epidemiological studies also report that nitrate contamination of tap water can harm the development of the fetus during pregnancy.
Radium-228
Utahns Affected
2,766,942
Contamination Sources:
-
Erosion of natural deposits
-
Oil and gas extraction
Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. It can occur naturally in groundwater, and oil and gas extraction activities can elevate concentrations.
Radium releases radioactive particles that harm health in many ways, causing tumors in bone, lungs and other organs; leukemia; and skin and blood damage.
Chromium (hexavalent)
Utahns Affected
2,479,303
Contamination Sources:
-
Dye and paint pigments
-
Wood preservatives
-
Chrome plating wastes
-
Leaching from hazardous waste sites
Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen and a reproductive toxicant for both males and females. Exposure to hexavalent chromium through drinking water, is linked to severe health effects.
In addition to cancer and reproductive harm, short and long-term exposures can lead to eye and respiratory irritation, asthma attacks, nasal ulcers, dermal burns, anemia, acute gastroenteritis, vertigo, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, convulsions, ulcers, and damage or failure of the liver and kidneys.
Total Trihalomethanes (THMs)
Utahns Affected
2,290,687
Contamination Sources:
-
Municipal Treatment
Aqueous chlorine reacts with certain organic materials present in water sources to form trihalomethanes (THMs). Long-term exposure to these harmful byproducts of disinfection has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and infant birth delivery problems. It is estimated that THMs in drinking water are responsible for as many as 2-17 percent of the bladder cancers diagnosed each year in the United States.
The total trihalomethanes group includes four chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.
In animal studies, all trihalomethanes cause liver, kidney and intestinal tumors. Some human epidemiological studies also reported an association between disinfection byproducts and an increased risk of problems during pregnancy, including spontaneous miscarriage, cardiovascular defects, neural tube defects and low birth weight.
Dibromochloromethane
Utahns Affected
2,003,073
Contamination Sources:
-
Municipal Treatment
Dibromochloromethane, one of the total trihalomethanes (THMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water.
Dibromochloromethane causes liver, kidney and intestinal tumors. Some human epidemiological studies also reported an association between disinfection byproducts and an increased risk of problems during pregnancy, including spontaneous miscarriage, cardiovascular defects, neural tube defects and low birth weight.
Radium-226
Utahns Affected
1,997,691
Contamination Sources:
-
Erosion of natural deposits
-
Oil and gas extraction
Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. It can occur naturally in groundwater, and oil and gas extraction activities can elevate concentrations.
Radium releases radioactive particles that harm health in many ways, causing tumors in bone, lungs and other organs; leukemia; and skin and blood damage.
Bromodichloromethane
Utahns Affected
1,931,300
Contamination Sources:
-
Municipal Treatment
Bromodichloromethane, one of the total trihalomethanes (THMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water.
Bromodichloromethane causes liver, kidney and intestinal tumors. Some human epidemiological studies also reported an association between disinfection byproducts and an increased risk of problems during pregnancy, including spontaneous miscarriage, cardiovascular defects, neural tube defects and low birth weight.
Arsenic
Utahns Affected
1,887,412
Contamination Sources:
-
Leaching from natural deposits
-
Wood preservatives, pesticides, industrial deposits
-
Petroleum production
-
Semiconductor manufacture
-
Coal power plants
Toxicity of arsenic to humans is well known, and ingestion of as little as 100 milligrams (mg) can result in severe poisoning. Amounts in water are normally much lower, but low concentrations still can lead to chronic symptoms. The effect of arsenic, when ingested in small amounts, appears very slowly. In fact it may take several years for the poisoning to become apparent. Chronic arsenosis can in its most extreme form, cause death. Inorganic arsenic is absorbed readily from the gastrointestinal track and becomes distributed throughout the body tissues and fluids. Ingestion of inorganic arsenic leads to a number of health effects as follows:
Cancerous effects: skin, bladder, lung, kidney, nasal passages, liver and prostate cancer
Non-cancerous effects: cardiovascular, pulmonary, immunological, neurological and endocrine disruption effects
Chloroform
Utahns Affected
1,798,663
Contamination Sources:
-
Municipal Treatment
Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (THMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water.
Chloroform causes liver, kidney and intestinal tumors. Some human epidemiological studies also reported an association between disinfection byproducts and an increased risk of problems during pregnancy, including spontaneous miscarriage, cardiovascular defects, neural tube defects and low birth weight.
Trichloracetic Acid
Utahns Affected
1,745,577
Contamination Sources:
-
Municipal Treatment
Trichloroacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water.
Trichloroacetic acid causes liver, kidney and intestinal tumors. Some human epidemiological studies also reported an association between disinfection byproducts and an increased risk of problems during pregnancy, including spontaneous miscarriage, cardiovascular defects, neural tube defects and low birth weight.
Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Sometimes chemicals that had not previously been detected (or were previously found in far lesser concentrations) are discovered in the water supply. These chemicals are known as “contaminants of emerging concern” or simply "emerging contaminants." Emerging contaminants are important because the risk they pose to human health and the environment is not yet fully understood.
Pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PCPs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are among the prime examples of emerging contaminants. Up to 90% of oral drugs pass through the human body and end up in the water supply. Personal care products (soaps, cosmetics, fragrances, etc.) also find their way into our water. Endocrine disruptors are substances that may interfere with the function of hormones in the body. Trace amounts of these contaminants are being discovered in water throughout the country. The U.S. EPA is working to improve its understanding of several emerging contaminants, including perchlorate, pharmaceuticals, PCPs and EDCs.
Should I be concerned?
With advances in testing and health research, experts are learning of new potential dangers in our drinking water. In many cases, the possible harms are not yet fully known.
How do I know if they're in my water?
Home testing for many newly discovered threats does not yet exist. In some cases, state laboratories can test for these contaminants or local professionals can provide water treatment to address them. Public health advocacy agencies and government bodies also conduct surveys to find some of these contaminants.
How can I prevent them?
To feel confident you are protecting yourself against contaminants, you should seek filtration and purification devices that have been rigorously tested and certified to independent standards. Experts in testing are constantly working to develop new standards to meet emerging threats.
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