Tap water has multiple uses, besides just drinking. It’s used for cooking, showering, washing and more. Almost all Americans get their tap water from city water or private wells, yet it can contain over one thousand contaminants from soil runoff, factories and natural deposits. Most of these contaminants can go undetected by smell or taste. To help people become aware of what contaminants can live in their water, the list below, according to the EPA, that allows you to know what the contaminant is, where it comes from and the side effects that can occur.
| Contaminants that Can Be Found in Tap Water | Where can the contaminant be found? | Side Effects from ingesting or encountering the contaminant |
|---|---|---|
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Can be found in household cleaning products (glues, paints, drinking water, etc). | Side effects include dizziness, vomiting, loss of conscious, low blood pressure and diarrhea. |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | It is used as a solvent for rubbers, fats, oils and waxes. | Possible side effects of are stinging and burning of the skin, |
| Acrylamide | Found in dyes, plastics and water treatments | Increased risk of cancer, nervous system and skin irriation can occur. |
| Alpha particles (radioactive decay) | Erosion of natural deposits of certain minerals | Cannot penetrate into the internal body, but can cause severe damage to living tissue (skin, eyes, etc) |
| Antimony | Found in metals, batteries, cable heating and other products. | Irritation to the lungs, skin and eyes. Can also suffer from heart problems, diarrhea and stomach ulcers. |
| Arsenic | Found in rocks, soil, water, plants and air. | Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems |
| Asbestos | Erosion of natural deposits (rocks and soil) | Increased risk of lung disease |
| Atrazine | Runoff from herbicide used on row crops | Cardiovascular system or reproductive problems, can cause cancer |
| Barium | Bleaches, fireworks, dyes and glass | Increase in blood pressure |
| Benzene | Leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills (found in oil) | Increase risk of cancer, bone marrow failure and anemia |
| Benzopyrene | Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, smoke and coal tar | Increased risk of cancer |
| Beryllium | Can be found in factories and minerals | Reproductive issues and increased risk of cancer |
| Bromate | Found in drinking water with lower pH levels | Increased risk of cancer |
| Cadmium | Found in batteries and factories | Kidney damage |
| Carbofuran | Pesticides used on potatoes, corn and soybeans | Problems with blood, nervous system, or reproductive system or death |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Found in fire extinguishers and cleaning supplies | Liver problems; increased risk of cancer, damage in nervous system |
| Chloramine | When ammonia is added to chlorine to treat drinking water | Eye/nose irritation; stomach discomfort, anemia |
| Chlordane | Residue of banned pesticides | Liver or nervous system problems; increased risk of cancer (i.e testicular or prostate cancer) |
| Chlorine | Water additive used to control microbes | Respiratory issues |
| Chlorite | Can be found by using bleach textiles, pulp, paper or in nature | Anemia; nervous system effects |
| Chlorobenzene | Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories (herbicides, rubbers and dyes) | Liver or kidney problems, muscle spasms |
| Copper | Corrosion of household plumbing systems | Diarrhea, vomiting or thyroid problems, growth issues |
| Cyanide | Found in plastics, rubbers or acrylic fibers | Delayed health effects such as asthma or bronchitis |
| Dalapon | Found in herbicides for a variety of crops | Minor kidney changes |
| Dichlorobenzene | Discharge from industrial chemical factories | Liver, kidney, or circulatory system problems (irritation of the eyes) |
| Dinoseb | Found in herbicide used on soybeans and vegetables | Problems with reproduction |
| Dioxin | Forest fires, volcanic eruptions or manufacturing such as smelting, paper pulp and more | Reproductive difficulties; increased risk of cancer. Stay in body for long periods of time |
| Endrin | Found in insecticide | Liver problems, dizziness, vomiting or convulsions |
| Epichlorohydrin | Found in plastics, resins, glues and glycerol | Increased cancer risk and stomach problems |
| Ethylbenzene | Chemical found in paint, rubbers and varnishes | Liver and kidneys problems |
| Fluoride | Found in water from salts | At high levels can cause bone disease and oral side effects |
| Glyphosate | Found in herbicides to kill weeds | Kidney problems and possibly reproductive difficulties |
| Haloacetic acids | Byproduct of disinfected drinking water | Increased risk of cancer, irritation of eyes and skin |
| Heptachlor | Found when using insecticides (also found in water, food or breast milk) | Liver damage; increased risk of cancer. When consumed at high amounts can cause death |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Seed treatment (especially wheat control) | Liver or kidney problems, skin discoloration, ulceration and increased risk of cancer |
| Lead | Household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits | Delays in physical or mental development, high blood pressure. Lead poisioning |
| Lindane | Runoff/leaching from insecticide. Also found in lice and scabies medicines | Affects the nervous system (dizziness, headaches, stomaches, etc) |
| Mercury (inorganic) | Mercury (inorganic) Erosion of natural deposits; discharge factories; runoff from landfills and croplands, fish | Kidney damage and affects the central nervous system |
| Methoxychlor | Synthetic found in insecticide (soil, water or air) | Reproductive difficulties, liver, heart and kidney damage. Can possibly cause depression |
| Nitrate | Runoff from fertilizer use | Children six months or younger can get shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. |
| Oxamyl (Vydate) | Found in insecticide | Slight nervous system effects |
| Pentachlorophenol | Discharge from wood preserving factories also found in pesticides and disinfectants | Liver, lung or blond or kidney problems; increased cancer risk |
| Picloram | Occurs through herbicide runoff | Liver problems, eyes and skin irritation |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls | Runoff from landfills, compound from chlorine | Reproductive or nervous system difficulties; increased risk of cancer |
| Pontiac Fever | Found naturally in water and/or heating systems | Pneumonia and acute influenza |
| Radium 226/228 | Erosion of natural deposits, occurs naturally | Increased risk of cancer |
| Selenium | Discharge from petroleum refineries or mines | Hair and fingernail loss and circulatory problems |
| Silvex | Residue from herbicide | Can cause liver problems |
| Simazine | Herbicide runoff | Problems with blood |
| Styrene | Discharge from rubber and plastic factories, also found in coal tar | Liver, kidney, or circulatory system problems. Eye and skin irritations |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Fluids from dry cleaning factories | Liver problems; increased risk of cancer. Can severely harm the central nervous system |
| Thallium | Discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories | Hair loss; kidney or liver problems |
| Toluene | Discharge from oil factories | Nervous system, kidney, or liver problems |
| Toxaphene | Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cotton | Damage to kidney, liver, or thyroid problems. Increased risk of cancer |
| Trichloroethylene | Discharge from metal decreasing sites and other factories (industrial solvent) | Liver problems; increased risk of cancer |
| Turbidity | Soil runoff, occurs from constructions, mining and agriculture | Nausea, diarrhea, and associated headaches. |
| Uranium | Erosion of natural deposits (minerals and soil) | Increased risk of cancer, kidney toxicity, damage to lungs |
| Vinyl chloride | Discharge from plastic factories and PVC pipes | Increased risk of cancer |
| Xylenes | Discharge from oil and chemical factories | Nervous system damage |
As you can see, there are many contaminants living in your tap water. To help protect yourself from these contaminants, refrigerator water filters can help. These filters help by removing up to 90% of impurities, leaving your water clean, healthy and great tasting. To find water filters, check out DiscountFilters.com, they have all types of filters for an affordable price.
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