Common & Controversial Pollutant in Drinking Water, TCE, Linked Strongly to Cancer
by www.SixWise.com
A widespread pollutant found in drinking water supplies across
the country can cause cancer in humans -- and at rates higher
than was thought just five years ago, according to a new National
Academy of Sciences (NAS) report.
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TCE -- now strongly linked to cancer and other health
problems in humans -- is known to contaminate U.S. drinking
water supplies.
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The contaminant is trichloroethylene, or TCE, a solvent with
a fairly sweet odor and taste used in adhesives, paint and
spot removers, and also to remove grease from metal airplane
parts and clean fuel lines at missile sites. TCE evaporates
quickly in the environment, but can easily migrate down through
soil and into groundwater where it can reach private and public
drinking water supplies.
Concerns Raised in 2001, but Suspiciously Dropped
In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued
a document raising concerns that TCE could cause cancer in
humans at rates higher than was previously thought.
Several federal agencies accused the EPA of inflating TCE's
risks, and consequently the request to make stricter regulations
was dropped. Ironically, the agencies that reportedly had
a hand in getting the document dropped -- the Department of
Defense, Energy Department and NASA -- all are known to have
sites polluted with the contaminant.
In response, the government asked the NAS to look into the
issue, hence the new report.
Not only does the new NAS report confirm the EPA's previous
findings that TCE may cause:
... but it also found that TCE may be somewhere between
two and 40 times more carcinogenic than was previously thought.
As a side note, if it seems suspicious that federal agencies
would want to keep the EPA from raising concerns about TCE,
consider this: since 2003, the Department of Defense has been
seeking exemptions to many environmental laws on the grounds
that they interfere with military readiness.
They have been granted exemptions from the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and parts of
the Endangered Species Act, and they continue to seek exemptions
from (though as of fiscal year 2007 have not yet been granted):
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The Clean Air Act
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The Solid Waste Disposal Act
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The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act (CERCLA)
"Many Communities are Exposed to the Chemical"
According to the NAS report, "Hundreds of waste sites
are contaminated with trichloroethylene, and it is well-documented
that individuals in many communities are exposed to the chemical,
with associated health risks."
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Using a granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration
system is the most effective way to remove TCE from
your water.
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TCE has been found at 60 percent of contaminated sites in
the Superfund cleanup program, and is commonly found in the
air, soil and water at U.S. military bases. In fact, TCE
is often described as the most pervasive industrial contaminant
in drinking water.
"The committee found that the evidence on carcinogenic
risk and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene
has strengthened since 2001," the report said.
Stricter Drinking Water Regulations May Follow
The report recommends that the EPA reassess the threat of
TCE to the American public. As it stands, regulations limit
TCE to no more than five parts per billion in drinking water,
but the findings may call for stricter regulations of just
one part per billion (which would almost assuredly require
military bases and other areas to be cleaned up).
How to Avoid TCE in Drinking Water
While the EPA begins a new risk assessment of TCE (the "EPA
will determine whether or not to address the drinking water
standard once the risk assessment is complete," said
Jennifer Wood, an EPA spokeswoman), you may be concerned about
TCE in your own drinking water.
A water testing company can detect TCE in your drinking water
and alert you if levels are higher than current EPA limits.
For private well owners, the Water Systems Council, a national
non-profit organization, advises testing your water for TCE
if you live in one of these at-risk states: Pennsylvania,
Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts and West Virginia.
To remove TCE from drinking water, a granular activated carbon
(GAC) filtration system is most effective. You can find a
GAC filter from a water treatment contractor or a home supply
store, in a one-faucet/appliance or whole-house variety.
If your water is contaminated with TCE, a whole-house GAC
filter is recommended, as this will apply to all faucets in
your home, including those used for bathing (otherwise, it's
possible to inhale TCE from the air while bathing).
Recommended Reading
Bottled
Water: Which City's Tap Water System is Making a Flood of
Cash off of You?
Is
There Radon in Your Drinking Water?
Sources
MSNBC
July 27, 2006
CRS Report for
Congress
Alter
Net: Military Waste in Our Drinking Water
Minnesota
Department of Health