Health effects of common drinking water standards Waterworks Operations WQT 111 Lecture 3

Inorganic Chemicals Review Arsenic, Nitrate and Nitrite, Lead, Copper Review Secondary MCLS. Fluoride Iron and Manganese.

Inorganic Arsenic Trivalent (As3+) Anaerobic reduced form Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table. Odorless and tasteless. Natural deposits Agricultural (pesticide= apple orchards) and industrial (wood preservative) Trivalent (As3+) Anaerobic reduced form arsenic trioxide, sodium arsenite arsenic trichloride Pentavalent (As5+) Aerobic oxidized form arsenic pentoxide, arsenic acid, arsenates (lead arsenate)

Acute - Toxicity MCL= .010 mg/L Inorganic arsenic (arsenic trioxide) 70 to 180 mg can be fatal Constriction of the throat with difficulty in swallowing Sever intestinal pain Vomiting, diarrhea Muscle cramps Severe thirst Coma and death

Arsenic backflow “A man sprays commercial weed killer containing an arsenic compound on the lawn using a garden hose attachment. After finishing, he disconnects the applicator. Since it is a hot day, he takes a drink of water from the hose. A short time later, he dies from arsenic poisoning.”

Studies of Health Effects of Chronic Arsenic Exposure Black-Foot Disease (BFD).-Unique to SW Taiwan Linked to: -drinking water sources. -arsenic in artesian wells.

Effects of Arsenic Exposure Skin Cancers on hands, arm and chest Hyperkeratosis of the hands

US Arsenic Map Reference - USGS – US Geological Services Map of US – arsenic in water - http://co.water.usgs.gov/trace/arsenic/  

Bangladesh Arsenic Map 40% of 50,000 wells sampled were contaminated with As! -85 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK! Reference – Arsenic in West Bengal & Bangladesh – Arsenic Crisis Information Center Access: http://bicn.com/acic/   Arsenic in Bangladesh Arsenic in Bangladesh WHO Arsenic The Largest Mass Poisoning in History

Arsenic Removal Oxidation (chlorine or permanganate) then coagulation with a alum or ferric chloride Ion exchange for arsenate Membrane methods reverse osmosis/nano filtration Reference – Arsenic in West Bengal & Bangladesh – Arsenic Crisis Information Center Access: http://bicn.com/acic/  

In water treatment, potassium permanganate is used primarily as: An oxidant A disinfectant A tracing Agent A corrosion inhibitor A coagulant

The MCl for Arsenic as of 1/23/06 is? 50 ug/L 1 mg/L 0.01 mg/L 0.05 mg/L

1.0 mg/L is the MCL Nitrite Health Effect Serious illness and sometimes death Shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome Source Runoff from fertilizer use Leaching from septic tanks, sewage Erosion of natural deposits

Nitrate 10.0 mg/L is the MCL Health Effect Source shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome Babies' stomachs are less acid than normal allowing bacteria in the stomach to convert nitrate (NO3) into nitrate (NO2). Nitrite gets into the blood system and prevents the hemoglobin in red blood cells from absorbing oxygen Source Runoff from fertilizer use Leaching from septic tanks, sewage Erosion of natural deposits

Methemoglobinemia Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which the body cannot recycle hemoglobin after it is damaged. Methemoglobinemia is treated with supplemental oxygen and methylene blue 1% solution administered intravenously slowly over five minutes followed by IV flush with normal saline

Nitrite and Nitrate

The MCL for nitrate as N at the point of withdrawal is: 1. 1 mg/l 2. 10 mg/l 3. 30 mg/l 4. 45 mg/l

An illness known as methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) is attributed to: 1. excessive hardness in water 2. high iodine content 3. too much iron in the water 4. high nitrate content

0.015 mg/L is the MCL Lead Health Effect Source Delays in physical or mental development Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities Source Corrosion of household plumbing systems Erosion of natural deposits Household dust containing lead from lead-based paint

Which of the following are potential problems associated with lead exposure in children? Brain damage and lower intelligence Behavior and learning problems Aches or pains in stomach All of the above

A component of the 1986 SDWA amendments was to “GET THE LEAD OUT”? True False

According to the Lead and Copper Rule, the action for the 90th percentile lead level is: 1. 0.005 mg/l 2. 0.015 mg/l 3. 0.030 mg/l 4. 0.050 mg/l

Lead in drinking water can lead to ? 1. stomach and intestinal disorders 2. reduction of white blood count 3. methamoglobinema 4. impaired mental functioning in children

1.3 mg/L is the MCL Copper Health Effect Source Copper is an essential nutrient, required by the body in very small amounts. Short periods of exposure can cause gastrointestinal disturbance, including nausea and vomiting. Long periods of exposure liver or kidney damage Source Corrosion of copper plumbing Erosion of natural deposits Copper mining and smelting operations

Raising the pH of post treated water is one way of controlling corrosion of copper in plumbing? True False

0.1 mg/L is the MCL Chromium Health Effect Source Chromium (Cr III) is an essential nutrient, required by the body in very small amounts. (CrVI- toxic carcinogen) Short periods of exposure can cause skin irritation or ulceration. Long periods of exposure damage to liver, kidney circulatory and nerve tissues; skin irritation. Source Chromium is a metal found in natural deposits as ores Stainless steel; wood preservative

Secondary MCLs National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations that set non-mandatory water quality standards for 15 contaminants Guidelines to assist public water systems SMCL, and public water systems only need test for them on a voluntary basis

Secondary MCLs Problems Aesthetic effects -- undesirable tastes or odors Cosmetic effects -- effects which do not damage the body but are still undesirable Technical effects -- damage to water equipment or reduced effectiveness of treatment for other contaminants.

Aesthetic Effects Secondary MCLs Odor and Taste -Algae, Organics, Chloride, Copper,  Foaming Agents, Iron, Manganese pH, Sulfate, Total Dissolved Solids, Zinc. 2. Color may be indicative of dissolved organic material, inadequate treatment, high disinfectant demand and the potential for the production of excess amounts of disinfectant by-products. -Aluminum, Color, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Total Dissolved Solids. 3. Foaming is usually caused by detergents and similar substances when water has been agitated or aerated as in many faucets

Tastes and odors in surface water are most often caused by: 1. clays 2. hardness 3. algae 4. coliform bacteria

Cosmetic Effects Secondary MCLs Skin discoloration is a cosmetic effect related to silver ingestion (argyria) Tooth discoloration and/or pitting is caused by excess fluoride exposures during the formative period prior to eruption of the teeth in children. -Flouride

Technical Effects Secondary MCLs Corrosivity, and staining related to corrosion, not only affect the aesthetic quality of water, but may also have significant economic implications Scaling and sedimentation are other processes which have economic impacts. Scale is a mineral deposit which builds up on the insides of hot water pipes, boilers, and heat exchangers, restricting or even blocking water flow.

4.0 mg/L is the MCL Fluoride Health Effect Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); Children may get mottled teeth Source Water additive which promotes strong teeth Erosion of natural deposits, Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Fluorosis Occurs when children are exposed to excessive levels of fluoride in water. Severe Fluorosis Mild Fluorosis

Fluoridation Factoids Dr. Frederick McKay “Colorado Stain” 1909 ~66% of United States residents on public water supplies have fluoridated water Levels between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L Not widely used in Europe (Ireland) No country has discontinued fluoridation simply because it was proven harmful in any way. Endorsed by AWWA, American Dental Association, and WHO

Fluoridation USA Fluoride Factoids 42 of the 50 largest U.S. cities have water fluoride 19 states have at least 75% of their population receiving fluoridated water 70% of people polled in a ADA survey believed community water should be fluoridated In cities with a population of over 50,000 people, fluoridation costs 31 cents per person per year

Fluoridation

Fluoridation Case Study Hooper Bay Alaska 1992 Fluoridation equipment failed Acute fluoride poisoning “nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or numbness or tingling of the face or extremities.” Well had a 150 mg/L [Fluoride] 296 people poisoned, 1 person died “Inspection of public water systems and monitoring of fluoride concentrations are needed to prevent outbreaks of fluoride poisoning.”

The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride in drinking water is: 1. 2.0 mg/l 2. 3.0 mg/l 3. 4.0 mg/l 4. 8.0 mg/l

Fluoride is generally added to public water supplies to 1. aid in disinfection 2. reduce iron buildup 3. protect the dental health of the young 4. help prevent contamination

High fluoride levels in a water system can lead to: 1. heart disease 2. tooth decay 3. discoloration of teeth 4. taste and odor complaints

0.3 mg/L is the secondary MCL Iron 0.3 mg/L is the secondary MCL Health Effect No known health effects Problems Rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining Source Erosion of natural deposits

Corrosion/Alkalinity Control

0.05 mg/L is the secondary MCL Manganese 0.05 mg/L is the secondary MCL Health Effect No known health effects Problems Black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste Remove Manganese with potassium permanganate Source Erosion of natural deposits

Fe and Mn staining of Groundwater in Vancouver Washington Fe (red) Mn (black) staining

0.01 mg/L is the MCL for arsenic? True False

The MCL for fluoride is 10 mg/L? True False

Manganese causes increased risk of cancer? True False

Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); Children may get mottled teeth are health concerns for fluoride True False

Aesthetic, Cosmetic and Technical Effects are all components of secondary MCLs? True False

3.0 mg/L is the MCL for Fe? True False

Color, Taste, Odor, and increased risk of cancer are all secondary MCLs? True False

Nitrate and nitrite can cause Methemoglobinemia? True False

Black foot disease is a problem with arsenic contamination? True False

If a water supply exceeds the MCL, whose responsibility is it to notify the consumer? 1. the testing lab. 2. the supplier. 3. the DOH 4. the USEPA

The objectives stated in the syllabus to Understand the fundamentals and health hazards of water contamination/chemistry as it relates to drinking water standards were met ? Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree