The Most Common Carcinogens To Know & Avoid

Drinking Water Contaminants

Several drinking water contaminants have been officially identified as carcinogens. There are currently ninety contaminants in drinking water that are regulated by the environmental protection agency. The maximum contaminant level is the largest amount of each contaminant permitted to be in public water systems. Arsenic is one of the most common and dangerous contaminants found in public water supply that is known to have cancerous effects on an individual's prostate, liver, nasal passages, lung, skin, kidney, and bladder. Radium is a contaminant found in public water sources that can cause carcinogenesis due to its radioactive properties. Chloramine in public water sources causes the generation of byproducts called nitrosamines, which can trigger carcinogenesis. Uranium is a radioactive chemical that may be found in public water sources that expose tissues in the body to carcinogenic radiation. One water contaminate called dioxane can be found in the public water supply from industrial spills, wastewater plant discharge, and hazardous waste sites, and is known to cause respiratory, liver, and gallbladder cancers.

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