Arsenic and Old Lace

When American playwright, John Kesselring, wrote the black comedy, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, he probably never imagined lacing our drinking water with arsenic. It was one thing for two crazy spinsters in a mystery to lace home-made elderberry wine with it, but the drinking water for a whole population?

Definition of Arsenic in Drinking Water

Arsenic is a very poisonous metallic element that has neither odor nor taste. Arsenic in drinking water usually originates in natural ground sources, but can also come as a result of industrial pollution.

When American playwright, John Kesselring, wrote the black comedy, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, he probably never imagined lacing our drinking water with arsenic. It was one thing for two crazy spinsters in a mystery to lace home-made elderberry wine with it, but the drinking water for a whole population?

Definition of Arsenic in Drinking Water

Arsenic is a very poisonous metallic element that has neither odor nor taste. Arsenic in drinking water usually originates in natural ground sources, but can also come as a result of industrial pollution.

Dangers of Arsenic in Drinking Water

Studies have shown that either short or long-term exposures to arsenic pose serious health threats. At high concentrations, arsenic is reported to cause cancer, particularly in the bladder, liver, kidneys, and prostate.

Arsenic in drinking water is also the suspected culprit in certain cases of blindness, gastrointestinal problems, limb numbness, nausea, partial paralysis, skin thickening, and stomach pain.

Who Puts Arsenic in Drinking Water

It’s simple to put arsenic in drinking water, and many people are doing it through carelessness.

* Damaged water pipes allow arsenic to seep into water.
* Fertilizers from farms leech arsenic into water.
* Volcanoes put arsenic in drinking water.
* Forest Fire erosion causes arsenic deposits in water.
* Arsenic used in production of glass, electronics, paints, soaps, wood preservatives, dyes, prescription drugs, and other products eventually finds its way into water.
* By-products of copper smelting, mining, and coal burning contribute to high levels of arsenic in drinking water.

Bottled water is touted as pure because it comes from underground, but scientists have found that there are higher levels of arsenic in drinking water from underground than in surface water.

What’s Being Done

Governments set standards for the acceptable level of arsenic in drinking water. On January 22, 2001, the EPA adopted a new standard for arsenic in drinking water at 10 parts per billion (ppb), replacing the old standard of 50 ppb. Water systems were given until January 23, 2006 to comply with the new standard. Almost all municipal and private wells are tested for compliance. Private well owners are urged to test theirs as well.