Water Contaminant: Arsenic
What is arsenic?
Highly toxic in its inorganic form, arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. As a toxic mineral, arsenic causes bladder, lung and skin cancer and does considerable harm to the skin and lungs.
How does arsenic affect health?
Arsenic is a confirmed human carcinogen and is considered the most significant chemical contaminant in drinking-water. Arsenic exposures increase the risk of bladder, lung and skin cancer. Some evidence suggests it can cause liver, kidney and prostate cancers. The effects of arsenic are both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term). The World Health Organization arsenic Fact Sheet lists the following effects:
Acute effects
Acute arsenic poisoning can include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. These are followed by numbness and tingling of the extremities, muscle cramping and death, in extreme cases.
Long-term effects
Symptoms of long-term exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic (for example, through drinking-water and food) are usually observed in the skin, and include pigmentation changes, skin lesions and hard patches on the palms and soles of the feet (hyperkeratosis). These occur after a minimum exposure of approximately five years and may be a precursor to skin cancer.
In addition to skin cancer, long-term exposure to arsenic may also cause cancers of the bladder and lungs. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified arsenic and arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans and has also stated that arsenic in drinking-water is carcinogenic to humans.
Other adverse health effects that may be associated with long-term ingestion of inorganic arsenic include developmental effects, diabetes, pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. arsenic-induced myocardial infarction in particular can be a significant cause of excess mortality.
Arsenic is also associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality, with impacts on child health, and exposure in utero and in early childhood has been linked to increases in mortality in young adults due to multiple cancers, lung disease, heart attacks and kidney failure. Numerous studies have demonstrated negative impacts of arsenic exposure on cognitive development, intelligence and memory.
Drinking water standards for arsenic
The current drinking water standard, or Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 10 ppb (parts per billion). The Environmental Protection Agency set a legal limit for arsenic in drinking water of 10 parts per billion in 2001, more than 20 years ago. That standard has since been heavily criticized by groups such as EWG.org, who have stated:
“EPA’s analysis showed that [the 10 ppb] limit was not low enough to protect public health, potentially causing up to 600 cancer cases in 1 million people who drink arsenic-contaminated water for a lifetime. A more recent EPA analysis, from a 2010 draft report, suggests that arsenic is much more toxic than previously estimated.”
Water contaminated with arsenic requires a special test to identify specific levels. Several areas in Utah have naturally-occurring high levels of arsenic in their water supplies. The graphic below shows the safe, unsafe, legal and danger limits of arsenic in drinking water.
Pollution sources
The greatest threat to public health from arsenic originates from contaminated groundwater. Arsenic in drinking water comes from many sources, including through agricultural and industrial contamination. It can also be naturally occurring, though it is usually exposed through operations such as mining. arsenic leaches from rocks into groundwater used for drinking or irrigation.
“The greatest threat to public health from arsenic originates from contaminated groundwater. ”
Arsenic levels in water tend to be highest in the western states. The recent crisis in Utah with the Great Salt Lake’s low water levels are cause for major concern as arsenic pollution in the air and water of areas in and around the Salt Lake valley will increase dramatically as the lake dries up. The arsenic in the Great Salt Lake has been traced back to past mining operations which caused a buildup of heavy metals to sink deep into the lake bed (sources: Livescience, KCRW).
Arsenic in Utah
According to EWG.org, Utah currently reports 371 water utilities serving over 3 million people that have contamination levels above health guidelines. For decades it has been recommended that residents on private wells have their water tested for potential arsenic contamination.
Arsenic removal
The WHO suggests the installation of arsenic removal systems – either centralized or domestic. Technologies for arsenic removal include oxidation, coagulation-precipitation, absorption, ion exchange and membrane techniques.
Longevity Systems to remove arsenic
For the best results we suggest installing, at a minimum, our Longevity Water Softener and the Longevity Arsenic Extractor.
Arsenic Extractor
The Longevity Arsenic Extractor is an arsenic-removal and water-treatment solution designed to effectively remove arsenic contaminants such as arsenite As (III) and arsenate As (V) from residential and commercial water sources. The Longevity arsenic Extractor uses Point of Entry (POE) water treatment for complete absorption of arsenic, Iron Manganese, and Hydrogen Sulfide.
The treated water is safe for consumption and any other household/business use.
Arsenic Treatment Parameters
The Longevity arsenic Extractor removes up to 99% of total arsenic in water, including As (III) & As (V). Treatment Goal is <10 parts per billion (ppb) total arsenic with a typical removal efficiency of 90-99% in water conditions between 5 to 500 ppb total arsenic. This treatment goal reflects the current EPA MCL of 10 ppb total arsenic.
Non-hazardous waste byproducts
The Longevity arsenic Extractor uses the highest quality media to provide reliable, high performance operation without chemicals. Once exhausted the media is non-toxic and passes Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), (EPA test method 1311) and may be disposed of as a non-hazardous material.
See full Product Specs: Longevity arsenic Extractor
Contact us for an arsenic test
We are able to test your water for a wide range of contaminants and can conduct a well analysis. Reach out to us today!
