Learn What May Be in Your Tampa Drinking Water

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can dissolve into groundwater, particularly in areas with certain geological conditions. Many Florida homeowners are surprised to learn that arsenic can be present in both private wells and some municipal water supplies.

The EPA has set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic at 10 parts per billion (ppb). However, many health experts suggest that even this level may not be fully protective, as arsenic is a known carcinogen linked to increased cancer risk even at low concentrations.

Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been associated with skin problems, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. While arsenic is absorbed less readily through the skin than through ingestion, showering in arsenic-contaminated water can still contribute to overall exposure.

Chlorine

Chlorine has been used as a disinfectant in water treatment for nearly 100 years. While it effectively kills harmful pathogens, the adverse effects of ingesting this chemical have become more widely recognized in recent years.

Chlorine is a calcium antagonist, and long-term consumption of chlorinated water has been linked to the loss of calcium in bones. Chlorinated tap water has also been associated with childhood and adult asthma and allergies. The EPA allows a higher chlorine level in tap water (4 parts per million) than the recommended chlorine levels for public swimming pools (1-3 ppm).

• Chlorine can cause harmful effects when consumed through drinking water, and has been linked to various health concerns in studies
• The presence of chlorine in tap water has also been linked to heart disease in some research studies
• Studies show chlorinated water can affect human intestinal bacteria, which play a role in converting organic compounds in our food into necessary nutrients
• After large rainstorms, municipalities may add more chlorine to treat potentially increased microorganisms from runoff

Chloramines

Chloramine is mainly used as a secondary disinfectant. It’s added to water that has already been disinfected with a primary disinfectant (often chlorine) to help protect treated water from recontamination as it flows through the distribution network.

• Chloramine is harmful to aquatic animals and must be removed from tap water before use in fish tanks
• Like chlorine, chloramine must be removed from municipal water before it is used for kidney dialysis
• Chloramines are respiratory irritants, with trichloramine being the most toxic form

Hexavalent Chromium is a state-wide concern. Each location tested had more than 0.02 parts per billion. However, all were compliant with maximum contaminant level guidelines.

There are Several Forms of Chromium, One Is Good & One Is Bad.

Chromium occurs in the environment primarily in one of two valences. Chromium(VI) and Chromium(III) are used for chrome plating, dyes and pigments, leather tanning, and wood preserving. A less common form used for making steel is metallic chromium(Cr 0). The health hazards associated with exposure to chromium are dependent on its state of oxidation. Nearly 70 million Americans are believed to have hexavalent chromium in their drinking water. A study of U.S. tap water by the Environmental Working Group detected Chromium-6 in the drinking water of 31 of 35 cities tested.

Our leaders have weighed the health factors against the costs of removing the Chromium(VI). You can still expect your water bills to increase significantly to meet the currently inadequate guidelines.

The Good: Trivalent Chromium (III)

Trivalent chromium occurs naturally and is an essential nutrient.

Web MD states, “Drinking hard tap water supplies chromium to the body.” Web MD also states, “Chromium is a mineral our bodies use in small amounts for normal body functions, such as digesting food. It exists in many natural foods including brewer’s yeast, meats, potatoes (especially the skins), cheeses, molasses, spices, whole-grain bread and cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables.” However, Web MD is referring to Chromium(III).

For most people, eating food containing Chromium(III) is the main route of intake because it occurs naturally in many vegetables, fruits, meats, yeasts, and grains. Chromium(III) is an essential nutrient for humans, and shortages may cause heart conditions, disruptions of metabolisms, and diabetes. However, too much Chromium(III) uptake can cause health effects such as skin rashes and other problems.

Chromium (VI)/Hexavalent Chromium: A Danger to Human Health

The most important thing you can do is limit your exposure to contaminated water. Hexavalent chromium is the same cancer-causing contaminant called the “safe” chromium by PG&E, and a judge ordered a settlement of 333 million dollars in 1993.

How does Chromium(VI) get into my water supply?

Chromium(VI) can occur naturally and might be present in some groundwater aquifers. Most Chromium(VI) reaches water supplies from industrial uses such as metal plating, stainless steel production, etc. Chromium compounds have been released into the environment via leakage, poor storage, or improper disposal practices. In short, Chromium(VI) occurs in nature, but it’s also a by-product of industry usages, such as chrome-plating.

According to an article by ATSDR: “It can be absorbed by the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, and even to a certain extent by intact skin. Human occupational experience indicates that, when inhaled, chromium compounds are respiratory tract irritants, resulting in airway irritation, airway obstruction, and lung, nasal, or sinus cancer. Dose, exposure duration, and the specific compound involved can determine chromium’s adverse health effects.”

Health Risks of Showering/Bathing in Chromium?

What are the health risks from bathing/showering in water contaminated with Chromium(VI)? Skin exposure to high levels of Chromium(VI) may cause skin irritation. In some individuals, skin exposure to Chromium(VI) may cause allergic contact dermatitis. A scientific study showed that a person is not exposed to a significant amount of Chromium(VI) from breathing steam while showering (Finley et al. 1996).

“The respiratory tract is the major target organ for Chromium(VI) following inhalation exposure in humans. Shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing were reported in cases where an individual inhaled very high concentrations of chromium trioxide,” according to the ATSDR. “Other effects noted from acute inhalation exposure to very high concentrations of Chromium(VI) include gastrointestinal and neurological effects, while dermal exposure causes skin burns in humans.”

Chromium can be measured in hair, urine, and blood. If you are experiencing any of the following, inform your doctor!

Chromium Allergic Dermatitis Is Characterized By:

• Dryness
• Erythema
• Fissuring
• Papules
• Scaling
• Small Vesicles
• Swelling

Other Health Concerns:

• Cancers: lung, nasal, sinus, respiratory (if exposed greater than 20 years)
• Breathing problems, such as asthma, cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing
• Pulmonary sensitization
• Severe dermatitis & painless skin ulcers
• Renal tubular damage
• Liver abnormalities
• Cardiovascular collapse

• Tap water contaminated with lead is associated with many physical and mental disorders, including neurological, reproductive, kidney, blood, and cognitive problems.
• Warm and hot tap water can contain much higher levels of lead than cold water. Therefore, boiling water does not reduce the amount of lead.
• Because lead can cross the placenta, an expectant mother who drinks tap water contaminated with lead places her fetus at risk for birth defects, premature birth, and even death. Even “normal” blood-lead levels in pregnant women can increase pregnancy risks.
• In a 2004 Washington Post investigation, it was found that several U.S. cities had tampered with water lead level results to avoid enforcing lead regulations and costly repairs to the water system.
• The EPA reports that 10-20% of human exposure to lead comes from tap water.
• According to the EPA, no amount of lead in drinking water can be considered safe.
• Even if municipal centers declare tap water lead-free, tap water can become contaminated with lead as it passes through the city and home piping. Lead pipes, copper pipes with lead solder, or bronze and brass faucets containing lead can contaminate tap water.
• Infants whose diets are made up of baby formula and other liquids made from tap water make up 40-60% of total lead exposure.
• Epidemiology studies show even low levels of lead can cause severe damage in children, including a lowered IQ, behavioral abnormalities, and kidney damage.
• Homes built before 1978 are likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solders. However, because lead can leach from new and legally “lead-free” faucets and fittings into tap water, new houses can pose a significant risk for lead contamination.
• The only safe way to remove lead from water in Florida is to invest in a lead-removal water system.

• Both bacteria and viruses are microorganisms regulated by EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) criteria. Viruses are the smallest form of microorganisms capable of causing disease, particularly those of a fecal origin infectious to humans by waterborne transmission. Bacteria are typically single-celled microorganisms that can also cause health problems in humans, animals, or plants, despite many forms’ abilities to aid in water pollution control. To ensure bacteria removal from your home water supply, invest in a microbial water filter.
  

  Common Waterborne Bacteria & Viruses & Their Health Concerns

  Various types of bacteria and viruses are categorized as pathogens or disease-causing organisms found in pre-treated and/or inadequately treated water. Here is a list of EPA-regulated bacteria/viruses in drinking water and their health risks:

  • Legionella, a bacteria found naturally in the environment — typically in water, thrives in warm waters; this bacteria in the water is a health risk if aerosolized (e.g., in a shower or air conditioning system) and inhaled, resulting in a type of pneumonia known as Legionnaires disease.
  • Enteroviruses are small viruses, such as polioviruses, echoviruses, and coxsackieviruses, living in the intestines of infected humans or animals; the three different polioviruses are 62-nonpolio enteroviruses that can cause disease in humans ranging from gastroenteritis to meningitis.

  Bacteria and viruses can also be listed as “indicators,” which at a level outside of identified limits, may reflect “a problem in the treatment process or the integrity of the distribution system,” according to the EPA. Here is a list of EPA-regulated viral/bacterial indicators and their potential problems:

  • Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of water and, although not a bacterium/virus, can hinder disinfection, provide an environment for microbial growth, and indicate the presence of bacteria/viruses and other disease-causing organisms that can produce symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, cramps, and headaches.
  • Coliforms are bacteria naturally present in the environment and used as indicators that other possibly harmful bacteria may be present (a warning sign is if coliforms are found in more samples than allowed).
  • Fecal indicators, Enterococci or coliphage, are microbes that can indicate human or animal wastes in water. They can cause short-term health effects, including cramps, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and more. They may pose a greater risk for people with severely weakened immune systems, including the elderly, young children, and infants.
  • E. coli and fecal coliform are bacteria whose presence can indicate water contaminated by human or animal wastes, causing short-term health effects, including cramps, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and more; they may also pose a greater risk for people with severely weakened immune systems, elderly, young children and infants.

Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring cancer-causing radioactive gas caused by uranium’s natural breakdown (radioactive decay). The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface. Radon is also fairly soluble in water. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air. It dissolves into groundwater in a few areas and can be released into the air when the water is used.

Safe Levels

The EPA action level guideline is 4pCi/l for Radon. This carries approximately 1000 times the risk of death than the EPA safety standard. The U.S. EPA lifetime safety standards for carcinogens are established based on a 1 in 100,000 risk of death. Most scientists agree that the risk of death for Radon at 4 pCi/l, is approximately one in 100. It is important to note that the action level is not safe, as this radioactive gas has no “safe” levels. Scientists estimate that 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year are related to Radon.

About one in 15 U.S. homes is estimated to have radon levels at or above this EPA action level. Scientists estimate that lung cancer death could be reduced by 2 to 4 percent, or about 5,000 deaths, by lowering levels in homes exceeding the EPA’s action level.

Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials or from water obtained from wells that contain Radon. Levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on soil rich in the elements uranium, thorium, and radium. The basement and first floors typically have the highest levels because of their closeness to the ground.

Removal Of Radon From Drinking Water

Two types of technology remove radon from water: Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters (which use activated carbon to remove the radon) and aeration devices, which bubble air through the water and carry radon gas out into the atmosphere through an exhaust fan.