Arsenic in Water - How it Got There
Arsenic gets into our drinking water in three ways. The largest source of arsenic is naturally occurring in rocks and minerals. In these instances, water absorbs arsenic as it slowly runs through the soil on its way into groundwater. Volcanic activity and forest fires also stir up arsenic causing it to leach into soil as rain and snow melt carry it into the Earth.The second way that we get arsenic in water is as a by-product of industrial processes like copper, lead and zinc ore smelting. Ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted from the Earth through mining; they are then refined to extract the valuable element(s). The process of refining these ores into pure copper which is widely used in electrical and electronics industries today, lead which is used extensively in batteries, sheathing materials for high voltage power cables and ammunition with lead bullets, and zinc separates these elements from a host of unwanted substances including arsenic. Although the US EPA regulates the disposal of arsenic to specified standards, over time arsenic still winds up in ground water which is used for drinking water.
The third source of arsenic contamination is farming that uses pesticides that contain arsenic. Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides and herbicides all designed to reduce or inhibit various things. As an insecticide, arsenic in the form of lead arsenate was used in orchards to control codling moth. It was used from the 1800s to the 1940s when DDT became available, leaving behind both arsenic and lead in the topsoil. The problem is, arsenic stays with us. As these orchards were converted into housing subdivisions, homeowners found their lawns and gardens were contaminated with arsenic. Similar issues exist as arsenic has been used with fungicides and herbicides. Many weed killers like crabgrass killer or liquid edger contain arsenic as one of several active ingredients. As these pesticides are used, they leach into the soil which eventually becomes ground water from which we get our drinking water.
Whether arsenic results from natural or man made sources, it is very dangerous to human health. For the sake of your health, take effective precautions when it comes to arsenic in water. Get yourself an arsenic water filter for yourself and the health of your family.
