Latest news with #TapWaterDatabase
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make alarming discovery about health impact of US tap water — here's what you need to know
Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right. But a shocking new report suggests that millions of Americans may be consuming water laced with hazardous chemicals — including PFAS "forever chemicals," heavy metals, and even radioactive substances — at levels far beyond what experts consider safe. A recent update to the Tap Water Database, compiled by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, analyzed water safety data from nearly 50,000 systems across the country between 2021 and 2023. The findings? A staggering 324 contaminants were detected in drinking water systems, affecting nearly every U.S. state. "This is a wake-up call," EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber said in a statement. While some of these contaminants — like nitrates from agricultural runoff or disinfection byproducts — have likely been present for years, others, including industrial pollutants like hexavalent chromium (made famous by the film "Erin Brockovich"), are newly emerging threats. Alarmingly, regulations may not be keeping pace. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 mandates the Environmental Protection Agency to set safety limits on contaminants, but experts warn that many limits are outdated — or nonexistent. Drinking contaminated water isn't just an environmental issue — it's a direct health risk. Long-term exposure to many of these chemicals have been linked to serious health conditions, including various cancers, endocrine disruption, developmental issues in children, and weakened immune function. PFAS, in particular, have been found in the drinking water of over 143 million Americans, and because they don't break down over time, they accumulate in the body, increasing the likelihood of harmful effects. The legal and regulatory landscape surrounding these contaminants is also shifting in concerning ways. While the EPA recently acknowledged that there is no safe level of PFAS — which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — in drinking water and established federal limits, those protections are now at risk. The U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. recently paused lawsuits from both water utility and chemical industry groups, delaying stricter regulations from taking effect. This delay raises fears that future policies could be weakened, leaving millions exposed to potentially toxic water. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While there's still a long way to go, steps are being taken at both the state and federal levels to address water contamination. Some states — including California, Michigan, and New York — have implemented their own stricter regulations on contaminants like PFAS, setting limits beyond federal requirements to ensure safer drinking water. Additionally, organizations like EWG, Clean Water Action, and Food & Water Watch are pushing for updated standards and increased funding for water treatment improvements. Public pressure remains key in driving change. Supporting policies that strengthen drinking water protections and urging elected officials to take action can help push for meaningful reforms. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
324 contaminants found in drinking water systems across US: Research
A survey of nearly 50,000 water networks nationwide revealed a staggering 324 different contaminants flowing out of American taps — with detectable levels of various pollutants showing up in nearly all water systems. The findings, from this year's update to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Tap Water Database, reveal that millions of people could be consuming water tainted with toxic chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive compounds, often at levels much higher than what scientists consider safe. 'This is a wake-up call,' Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at EWG, said in a statement. 'Outdated federal regulations continue to leave millions of people at risk of exposure to harmful substances.' The massive database provides a ZIP code-level window into the specific contaminants affecting community drinking water supplies, compiled from water quality data collected between 2021 and 2023. Upon entering a specific ZIP code into the search bar, users can scroll down to select the utility that serves their community. The database then specifies the concentrations of 'contaminants detected' alongside a comparison of EWG's health guidelines. Alongside the results is a caveat that 'legal does not necessarily equal safe,' with a warning that in many cases, the 'legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.' Of particular concern to the researchers was the nationwide prevalence of cancer-causing 'forever chemicals,' which appeared in the drinking water of more than 143 million people. There are thousands of types of these synthetic compounds, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are common ingredients in household items like waterproof apparel, nonstick pans and certain kinds of cosmetics. While the Biden administration in 2024 set drinking water standards for six types of PFAS, scientists have shown that for the most notorious of these chemicals, there is no safe consumption level. Another compound of concern was hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, which came into the public eye through the work of environmental activist Erin Brockovich, in Hinkley, Calif. This carcinogenic form of chromium is present in the drinking water of more than 250 million Americans, and there is no federal limit on the substance. Other pollutants that alarmed the EWG researchers were volatile organic compounds, like trichloroethylene (TCE), nitrates, heavy metals like arsenic and disinfection byproducts. In Washington, D.C., some of the biggest offenders were nitrates, hexavalent chromium, radium and lead. Los Angeles's drinking water contained the radioactive contaminant uranium, hexavalent chromium, lead and disinfection byproducts. As for New York City, pollutants in the drinking water system included hexavalent chromium, chloroform and various disinfection byproducts. 'For too long, outdated federal standards have failed to reflect the latest science on drinking water, leaving millions exposed to harmful chemicals,' Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at EWG, said in a statement. Since the Trump administration took office, environmental activists have feared that certain existing standards could be rolled back and further complicate efforts to clean up American water supplies. It remains to be seen, however, what — if any — such action will be taken. 'Safe drinking water shouldn't be a political debate — it's a fundamental right,' Benesh said. 'A rollback of these hard-won protections would be a devastating setback.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
26-02-2025
- Health
- The Hill
324 contaminants found in drinking water systems across US: Research
A survey of nearly 50,000 water networks nationwide revealed a staggering 324 different contaminants flowing out of American taps — with detectable levels of various pollutants showing up in nearly all water systems. The findings, from this year's update to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Tap Water Database, reveal that millions of people could be consuming water tainted with toxic chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive compounds, often at levels much higher than what scientists consider safe. 'This is a wake-up call,' Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at EWG, said in a statement. 'Outdated federal regulations continue to leave millions of people at risk of exposure to harmful substances.' The massive database provides a ZIP code-level window into the specific contaminants affecting community drinking water supplies, compiled from water quality data collected between 2021 and 2023. Upon entering a specific ZIP code into the search bar, users can scroll down to select the utility that serves their community. The database then specifies the concentrations of 'contaminants detected' alongside a comparison of EWG's health guidelines. Alongside the results is a caveat that 'legal does not necessarily equal safe,' with a warning that in many cases, the 'legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.' Of particular concern to the researchers was the nationwide prevalence of cancer-causing 'forever chemicals,' which appeared in the drinking water of more than 143 million people. There are thousands of types of these synthetic compounds, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are common ingredients in household items like waterproof apparel, nonstick pans and certain kinds of cosmetics. While the Biden administration in 2024 set drinking water standards for six types of PFAS, scientists have shown that for the most notorious of these chemicals, there is no safe consumption level. Another compound of concern was hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, which came into the public eye through the work of environmental activist Erin Brockovich, in Hinkley, Calif. This carcinogenic form of chromium is present in the drinking water of more than 250 million Americans, and there is no federal limit on the substance. Other pollutants that alarmed the EWG researchers were volatile organic compounds, like trichloroethylene (TCE), nitrates, heavy metals like arsenic and disinfection byproducts. In Washington, D.C., some of the biggest offenders were nitrates, hexavalent chromium, radium and lead. Los Angeles's drinking water contained the radioactive contaminant uranium, hexavalent chromium, lead and disinfection byproducts. As for New York City, pollutants in the drinking water system included hexavalent chromium, chloroform and various disinfection byproducts. 'For too long, outdated federal standards have failed to reflect the latest science on drinking water, leaving millions exposed to harmful chemicals,' Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at EWG, said in a statement. Since the Trump administration took office, environmental activists have feared that certain existing standards could be rolled back and further complicate efforts to clean up American water supplies. It remains to be seen, however, what — if any — such action will be taken. 'Safe drinking water shouldn't be a political debate — it's a fundamental right,' Benesh said. 'A rollback of these hard-won protections would be a devastating setback.'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The truth about American drinking water: Report shows widespread presence of hazardous chemicals
Between the ongoing controversy around fluoridated water and the recent discovery of a chemical in our water systems that may or may not be toxic, the safety of American drinking water is murky, to say the least. And today, with a new report revealing that tap water is delivering harmful chemicals like PFAS ('forever chemicals'), heavy metals, and radioactive substances to millions of Americans—often at levels far beyond what scientists consider safe—it got even murkier. The latest update to the Tap Water Database, from the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), reveals that 324 contaminants were found in drinking water systems across the country, with almost all systems having some amount of detectable contaminants in its water. That's according to safety data collected between 2021 and 2023 by EWG from nearly 50,000 water systems in every state (except New Hampshire, which did not provide its data). 'This is a wake-up call,' said EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber in a news release. Consumers can search the database by zip code to see what specific contaminants were found in their local water systems. 'The impact of human activities on our environment inevitably trickles downstream, impacting our drinking water,' EWG senior science analyst Sydney Evans tells Fortune. She adds that while many of the contaminants have likely been long present in our water and are only being detected now because of improved scientific methods, others appear to be new. 'I would argue that a lot of it has been the way that chemicals and industries are regulated in this country—allowing for a huge number of chemicals to be approved without a whole lot of underlying research to prove that they're safe," she says. Tap water is regulated by the Safe Water Drinking Act of 1974. The law, explains EWG vice president of government affairs Melanie Benesh, requires the Environmental Protection Agency to look at the contaminants that are in drinking water, set safe limits on them, and then require water utilities to implement those standards through regular monitoring, by installing treatment technologies, or by changing their drinking water sources. 'But a lot of those clean water limits are out of date,' Benesh says. 'There are a lot of unregulated contaminants that probably should be regulated contaminants, and the process for adding new contaminants to that list is very slow.' States are given further authority to set more stringent standards—something that 11 states (Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin) have taken advantage of by setting standards for maximum levels of certain PFAS in drinking water. The EPA set historic federal PFAS limits last April after determining that there is no safe exposure level in drinking water, as they are carcinogens. But those protections are now in limbo, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. paused lawsuits from both water utilities and the chemical industry, allowing the Trump administration more time to review the EPA limits—and raising fears that they could be made weaker. California, though, just introduced legislation that would codify those limits within the state. The following groupings of chemicals are among the most common, according to EWG, which says that, to keep them out of drinking water, utility companies would have to start using more advanced treatment protocols. 'We need to disinfect drinking water so that people don't get different pathogens,' Evans explains. But the disinfection chemicals can then combine with other contaminants and organic matter in the water to make byproducts, 'which, at low levels, are linked to things like bladder cancer,' she says. 'There's a balancing act that needs to be done there.' This is the cancer-causing chemical made notorious by the film Erin Brockovich, which documented the poisoning of drinking water in Hinkley, Calif. It gets into drinking water as industrial pollution or through erosion of soil and rock. There is still no national standard for chromium-6 in drinking water, as the EPA's safety review of the chemical was stalled by pressure from the industries responsible for contamination. Toxic effects can include stomach cancer, liver and reproductive system damage, and lowered body weight. Nitrate, from fertilizer, landfill, or animal waste runoff, 'is another big one,' says Evans, adding that it can be naturally occurring at low concentrations. At high levels, she says, it has been known 'to be particularly harmful to babies in the short term,' while more recent research has shown low levels linked to colorectal and other forms of cancer. This is the large group of long-lasting chemicals that break down extremely slowly over time, used widely, industrially, for things including firefighting foam, nonstick pans, clothing, food packaging, furniture, and textile coatings. Found widely in water, air, soil, and the blood of people and animals all over the world—and in the drinking water of over 143 million Americans—they are linked to a host of health effects at low levels, including immune system suppression, endocrine disruption, low birth rate, various cancers, reduced vaccine effectiveness, and liver damage. 'We have a gap between what is legally allowed in drinking water and what the research shows is dangerous because [legal limits] are outdated,' says Evans. Perchlorate, a toxic component of rocket fuel, is harmful to humans because it blocks the thyroid from taking in iodide, which is critical to its ability to regulate many bodily functions. Too little iodide can cause harm to metabolism and to physical and cognitive development, and puts children and developing fetuses at the most risk. The No. 1 way to know you are drinking safe water, says Evans, is to invest in a home water filter—a solution she says comes with 'a caveat.' 'We recognize that it is not the universal solution, because whether it's out there and available and effective or not, not everybody's going to be able to take advantage of it,' whether due to time, energy, or cost, she says. 'It's just not an equitable solution.' That being said, filtering your water at home is very effective, she says, as long as 'you have the right filter for the job.' It's why EWG tested a range, and included the search-by-zip feature in its new database, pointing first to what contaminants are in your local water and then to which filters best fit your situation. 'Because not all types of filters are going to be effective for all contaminants,' she says, noting that the activated-carbon filter pitchers are the easiest and more affordable, while a reverse-osmosis system will be more effective and expensive. Bottled water, meanwhile, should be avoided except in the case of natural disasters or other emergencies. 'The main issue that we have with bottled water is that there's really no guarantee that it's any better than your tap water,' Evans says. 'Sometimes it can be, but a lot of times it's not, and the testing, because it's regulated by a different agency, is a lot less transparent.' Further, she says, it's less affordable, not environmentally sustainable, and could be made unsafe by its bottle's plastic, which can break down and wind up in the water. Finally, consumers can advocate for stronger tap water regulations. 'Certainly, people can call their legislators,' says Benesh, who advises letting them know you believe in stronger limits—as well as preserving the in-limbo PFAS limits enacted by the EPA last year. 'That's certainly something that consumers can and should do." More on drinking water: The new fluoride study dividing the public health world as RFK Jr. calls for a ban on adding it to water Americans drink more water than almost every other country. Here's why More than 113 million people are drinking tap water that contains a newly identified chemical—and nobody knows if it's toxic or not This story was originally featured on
