DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS

FREQUENTLY ASKED  QUESTIONS

CONTAMINANT PROBABLE HEALTH EFFECTS*

  • Arsenic -- Malignant tumors of skin and lungs, cramps, spasms, effects to nervous system 
  • Barium -- Prolonged stimulant action on muscles, nerve block 
  • Benzene -- Cancer, leukemia, anemia 
  • Cadmium -- Bronchitis, anemia, gastrointestinal upsets, cancer in rats 
  • Carbon tetrachloride -- Central nervous system depression, gastrointestinal effects, liver and kidney damage, coma, death 
  • Chlordane -- Carcinogen, liver and kidney damage 
  • Chlorobenzene -- Irritation to respiratory system, central nervous system depression 
  • Chloroform -- Possible liver, kidney and heart effects; carcinogenic in at least one animal species 
  • Chromium -- Kidney damage, cancer 
  • Copper -- Gastrointestinal tract irritant, possible infant fatality, Wilson's disease 
  • Dichlorobenzene(s) -- Suspected carcinogen 
  • 1,1-Dichloroethane -- Central nervous system depression, liver damage, suggested animal carcinogen 
  • 1,2-Dichloroethane -- Nausea, mental confusion, liver and kidney damage 
  • Dichloroethylene -- Nausea, dizziness 
  • Ethylenedibromide (EDS) -- Decreased fertility 
  • Fluoride -- Skeletal damage when present in high levels 
  • Heptachlor -- Possible tumor induction, carcinogenic in test animals 
  • Lead -- Damage to nervous system, kidneys, reproductive system; cancer in rats 
  • Lindane -- Chronic liver damage, anemia, leukemia 
  • Mercury -- Kidney impairment, possible death 
  • Methylene chloride -- Toxic 
  • Nickel -- Signs of hyperglycemia and gastrointestinal and nervous disorders 
  • Pentachlorophenol (PCP) -- Loss of appetite, respiratory difficulties, anesthesia, coma, death 
  • PCBs -- Damage to skin and liver; nausea, loss of weight, jaundice, coma, death 
  • Selenium -- Carcinogen; irritation to mucous membranes, dermatitis 
  • Sulfate -- Laxative action 
  • Tetrachloroethylene -- Central nervous system effects; confirmed animal carcinogen, anesthesia, death 
  • Toluene -- Narcosis, irritation to eyes and respiratory system 
  • Toxaphene -- Possible liver damage 
  • 1,1,1-Trichloroethane -- Narcosis, depression of central nervous system, unconsciousness, death 
  • 1,1,2-Trichloroethane -- Possible liver and kidney effects, possible carcinogen in animals 
  • Trichloroethylene -- Central nervous system depression, loss of coordination, unconsciousness strong irritant and carcinogen
  • 2,4,6-Trichloropheno -- Suspected carcinogen 
  • Trihalomethanes (THMs) -- Effects to nervous system and muscles, loss of consciousness 
  • Vinyl chloride -- Central nervous system depression, dulling of visual and auditory responses, possible death 
  • Xylene -- Mucous membrane irritant, lung congestion, impairment of kidney functions 
  • Zinc -- Muscular stiffness and pain, loss of appetite, nausea _____________________________________________________
    *The Assembly Office of Research, April 12, 1983, states that the health 
    effects listed for these substances were compiled from the following sources: 
    "Drinking Water and Health", National Academy of Sciences, Safe Drinking Water Committee, 1977, 
    "Contamination of Ground Water by Toxic Organic Chemicals", U.S. Council on Environmental Quality, 1981 
    "Carcinogenic Hazards of Organic Chemicals in Drinking Water", R.H. Harris, T. Page, and N.A. Reiches, 1977

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