EPA Warned About Arsenic Levels

March 28, 1999
It's little surprise that 18- to 34-year-olds are at the heart of a nationwide increase in illegal drug use, and the manufacturing industry traditionally draws heavily from this pool of job seekers.

EPA's standard for arsenic in drinking water is too low and may expose many people to unacceptable risk of cancer, according to the National Academy of Scientists (NAS).

A report by the NAS acknowledged uncertainties about whether arsenic exposure triggers cancer, but concluded current EPA regulation "does not sufficiently protect public health."

EPA's current maximum allowable arsenic content is 50 micrograms per liter of drinking water. NAS said this should be lowered "as promptly as possible."

EPA officials say they have been concerned about arsenic levels in water for some time and said a new arsenic standard for drinking water would be proposed by next January. A final standard is likely in 2000.

"We agree with the conclusions of the report that we need to strengthen our drinking water standards to protect public health and the environment," said Charles Fox, assistant EPA administrator for water issues.

Sponsored Recommendations

Avetta Named a Leader in The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Supply Chain Sustainability Software 2024

Nov. 26, 2024
Avetta was named a leader by Verdantix in a 2024 sustainability software report for our ability to help clients and suppliers build sustainable supply chains.

Avetta is a Leader in Supply Chain Sustainability Software

Nov. 26, 2024
Verdantix has named Avetta a leader in its 2024 Green Quadrant for Supply Chain Sustainability Software. Download the report for independent insights into market trends and top...

The Power of Benchmarking in Procurement: Driving Success and Strategic Planning

Nov. 26, 2024
Explore the strategic impact of benchmarking in procurement to drive success and plan effectively.

What We Can Learn From OSHA's 2024 Top 10 Safety Violations

Nov. 26, 2024
Learn what OSHA’s 2024 top 10 incident list reveals about the limitations of compliance and the need for proactive, continual safety improvement.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!