Whats in our water? Where did it come from? How much is too much? What does it do to me?

What is in our water? Anything that gets flushed, dumped or washed away!

There are lots of Organic Compounds Acenaphthene Acrolein Acrylonitrile Benzene Benzidine Carbon Tetrachloride Chlorinated Benzenes* Chlorinated Ethanes* Chlorinated Naphthalene Chlorinated Phenols* Chloroalkyl Ethers* Chloroform 2-Chlorophenol Dichlorobenzenes* Dichlorobenzidine Dichloroethylenes* 2,4-Dichlorophenol Dichloropropane and Dichloropropenes* 2,4-Dimethylphenol 2,4-Dinitrophenol 2,4-Dinitrotoluene* 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine Ethylbenzene Fluoranthene Haloethers* Halomethanes* Hexachlorobutadiene Hexachlorocyclopentadiene Isophorone Naphthalene Nitrobenzene Nitrophenols* Nitrosamines* Pentachlorophenol Phenol Phthalate Esters* Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)* Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons* 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) Tetrachloroethylenes Toluene Trichloroethylenes Vinyl Chloride

There are some HEAVY metals… Antimony Arsenic Beryllium Cadmium Chromium Copper Lead Mercury Nickel Selenium Silver Thallium Zinc OTHER Asbestos Cyanide & some pesticides. Aldrin/Dieldrin Chlordane DDT* Endosulfan* Endrin* Heptachlor* Hexachlorocyclohexane*

Where do they come from? We use this stuff everyday… TCE (trichloroethylene) is used by dry cleaners and in manufacturing processes ….(trichloroethylene) PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were used in electrical transformers, and manufacturing processes….(polychlorinated biphenyls) DDTDDT is used to kill insects…. MercuryMercury is released when certain types of coal are burned in power plants….

How much is too much? There is too much of a toxic substance when it becomes toxic! When it kills you or makes you sick. There is too much if it kills aquatic vegetation and life. There is too much if you can see it, smell it or taste it.

TCE Allowable Amount (according to the EPA): 5 ppb Recently found levels/locations: 190 ppb at a home near Joplin, MS 400 to 3,600 ppb in margarine products in the United States 12 to 16 ppb in processed meats in the United States Effects Cancer; liver, kidney & reproductive effects

PCB Allowable Amount (according to the EPA): – 500ppt Recently found levels/locations: – 17ppt in the Great Lakes – 3 ppm in the blubber of seals in the Arctic – 180 ppb in the breast milk of women in NW Arctic Effects – Cancer, Chemical Acne, reduced birth weight, reduced IQ & test performance

DDT Allowable Amount (according to the EPA): 2 ppb Recently found levels/locations: 0.2 to 4.3 ppm is the average level found in the breast milk of women in the United States Effects on humans Breast cancer, endocrine disruptor Effects on environment Thinning eggshells of birds, reproductive impairment, developmental disruptions

Mercury Allowable Amount (according to the EPA): 2 ppb Recently found levels in the United States Quaker Oatmeal To Go Bars: 350 ppt Hershey's Chocolate Syrup: 257ppt Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce: 200ppt Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars: 180ppt Manwich Gold Sloppy Joe: 150ppt Smucker's Strawberry Jelly: 100ppt Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry: 100ppt Hunt's Tomato Ketchup: 87ppt Coca-Cola Classic: 62ppt Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt: 60ppt Berry Minute Maid Punch: 40ppt Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink: 30ppt Nesquik Chocolate Milk: 30ppt Effects Impaired development/growth Central Nervous System disorders