A new study has revealed alarming findings about the safety of drinking water across the U.S., with nearly 100 million Americans potentially consuming water tainted with harmful chemicals that could pose serious health risks, including cancer.

Researchers from the Silent Spring Institute, a nonprofit focused on the environmental causes of cancer, have uncovered that approximately one-third of the country is drinking water contaminated with unregulated and largely unknown substances.

The Dangerous Chemicals in Drinking Water

The study analyzed data from over 4,800 water sources, finding that 27%—which serves around 97 million people—contained detectable levels of at least one of four chemicals linked to organ damage, hormone imbalances, and cancer.

These chemicals, which are not currently regulated by the federal government, can easily end up in groundwater and surface water, eventually contaminating drinking supplies.

Co-author Laurel Schaider of the Silent Spring Institute emphasized the widespread issue, noting that many of these harmful substances remain largely undetected and unregulated, further exposing communities to significant health risks.

Racial Disparities in Contaminant Exposure

One of the study’s most concerning findings is the disproportionate impact these contaminants have on communities with higher proportions of Hispanic and Black residents.

These communities were found to have higher levels of pollutants and were often located near major sources of contamination, such as wastewater treatment plants, military sites, airports, and industrial areas.

Lead author Aaron Maruzzo pointed out that the percentage of Hispanic and Black residents in a community was a reliable predictor of poorer water quality, indicating systemic issues such as environmental racism and redlining that place industrial facilities in these neighborhoods.

The Gaps in Federal Regulations and State Oversight

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates a limited number of contaminants, many harmful substances are not covered under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

As a result, it falls on state governments to set safety limits, but even then, these regulations are not universally applied.

This regulatory gap leaves millions of people unknowingly drinking water contaminated with substances that could harm their health over time.

The study focused on the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Program, which tracks substances suspected to be in public water systems but are not yet regulated.

Data from this program showed widespread contamination, particularly in larger water systems serving more than 10,000 people.

The Health Impacts of Contaminants

The study specifically examined four harmful chemicals that are present in drinking water.

These include 1,4-dioxane, a solvent classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen, which can cause liver and kidney damage.

Another major concern is the group of chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly found in nonstick cookware and water-repellent fabrics.

PFAS have been linked to a wide range of health issues, including cancer and thyroid disease.

The study also identified chlorodifluoromethane, a gas used as a refrigerant, and 1,1-dichloroethane, a solvent tied to cancer.

The Systemic Nature of Water Quality Inequities

Researchers found that larger water systems, particularly those in urban areas and those drawing from groundwater, were more likely to contain dangerous contaminants.

Additionally, communities near industrial areas, where PFAS-producing facilities are common, were up to 10 times more likely to have PFAS in their water supply.

This points to a systemic issue where environmental policies disproportionately affect communities of color, as these neighborhoods are often targeted for the placement of harmful industries.

The Urgent Need for Change

The Silent Spring Institute researchers argue that this study highlights the urgent need for better protection of source waters and stricter regulations on pollutants.

Dr. Schaider stressed the importance of improving policies to safeguard water supplies and reduce harmful discharges into bodies of water that feed into drinking sources.

Until meaningful changes are made, millions of Americans will continue to face the risk of exposure to potentially life-threatening chemicals in their tap water.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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