Dirty Tap Water could put pregnant women at risk
Milllions of Americans have been drinking tap water contaminated with chemical byproducts from chlorine that are far more than what studies suggest may be safe for pregnant woman, two environmental groups say in a new study.
Chlorine is commonly used to disinfect drinking water. When it is added to water that contains organic matter such as runoff from farms or lawns, it can form compounds such as chloroform or chloromine that can cause illnesses.
“By failing to clean up rivers and reservoirs that provide drinking water for hundreds of millions of Americans, EPA and the Congress have forced water utilities to chlorinate water that is contaminated with animal waste, sewage, fertilizer, algae and sediment” accoridng to the USEPA.
The Environmental Health Department cautioned that the link between the byproducts and pregnancy risks is suggestive, but not conclusive.. Still, if the pregnancy studies are proved, millions could be at risk.
EPA studies showed that reducing the level of trihalomethanes might mean 2,332 fewer cases of bladder cancer per year.
To reduce the risks, the Federal Government should provide billions of dollars more for cleaning up sources of contaminated water and providing more areas that can filter potential contaminents from farmland and urban areas.
Currently, filtered water bottles, and other water filters are the only way to ensure our safety and our health.
