A recent study reveals that over 97 million Americans have been exposed to harmful, unregulated pollutants in their drinking water, which could pose serious health risks. This adds to growing concerns regarding the safety and quality of tap water across the United States.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established legal limits for over 90 contaminants in drinking water. However, the latest research by the Silent Spring Institute, a nonprofit organization, uncovered that 27% of the 4,800 public water systems they examined contained detectable levels of at least one of four “dangerous” chemicals that are not currently regulated by the EPA.

The chemicals identified by Silent Spring include:

• 1,4-dioxane, an industrial solvent considered a “likely” carcinogen that could lead to severe damage to the kidneys and liver, and in high levels, even be fatal • Chlorodifluoromethane (also known as Freon 22), a colorless refrigerant gas that can cause symptoms like severe irritation, headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and potentially death • 1,1-dichloroethane, a cleaning solvent and degreaser that may elevate the risk of kidney and other cancers with prolonged exposure • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” linked to various health issues, including an increased risk of certain cancers

For their analysis, Silent Spring examined EPA data from 2013 to 2015. Laurel Schaider, a senior scientist at Silent Spring and co-author of the study, mentioned to The Post that the EPA is conducting another round of testing, but those results are not yet available.

With over 12,000 types of PFAS in existence, current testing methods cannot detect all of them. In April, the EPA announced plans to regulate six types of PFAS in drinking water starting in 2029, aiming to protect 100 million people from further exposure.

Silent Spring’s research also highlighted that Hispanic and Black Americans face a higher risk of exposure to these contaminants, as they are more likely to reside near pollution sources, including wastewater treatment plants, airports, military areas, and industrial facilities.

The study’s findings were published Wednesday in Environmental Health Perspectives. This comes after the identification of a potentially dangerous chemical byproduct in treated drinking water, which millions of Americans consume.

If you’re concerned about your tap water’s quality, Schaider advises reaching out to your local water utility or health department to check whether your water has been tested for PFAS and other harmful substances.

You can also treat your water at home using one of these two systems: • Granular activated carbon (GAC) or solid carbon block filters, which are effective at removing long-chain PFAS (like PFOA and PFOS, the most commonly found in water), though they are less effective at removing shorter-chain versions, according to Schaider. • Reverse osmosis, considered the most efficient technology for removing a broad range of PFAS, including short-chain chemicals. However, this system is more expensive and generates a significant amount of wastewater, Schaider explained.

“When choosing a filtering system, look for one that is NSF P473-certified or meets the NSF/ANSI 53 standard for activated carbon filters and the NSF/ANSI 58 standard for reverse osmosis,” Schaider recommended. “Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and replace the filters or membranes as instructed.”

Schaider also cautioned that bottled water might not be a safer alternative, as many bottled water companies source their water from municipal supplies. There is no federal mandate requiring these companies to test or treat their water for PFAS, so it’s a good idea to check with your state’s environmental or health department to find out whether testing has been done.

{Matzav.com}