WATER POLLUTION

Water is the basis of all life. Our water supply has become tainted over the
centuries by micro-organisms such as cholera or e coli, or other toxins such as
heavy metals, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. TOXIC HEAVY
METALS are found in some water supplies: Chromium, Lead, Mercury,
Arsenic, Cadmium. These heavy metals are not just found in Flint Michigan,
but may be found in the water supplies of many communities around the country.
PHARMACEUTICALS are found in some water supplies:: antibiotics, steroids,
hormones, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, anti-convulsants, heart
medicines, proton pump inhibitors, tylenol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medicines. MICRO-PLASTICS are found in many bottled waters. There is NO
ONE SAFE BRAND. Testing has indicated that the SAME BRAND may have
widely varying levels of micro-plastics depending on how long the water has
been sitting in the bottle and what temperatures it has been exposed to.

SOURCES:

Troubled Water, by Seth Siegel
Clinical Environmental Medicine, by Walter Crinnion and Joseph Pizzorno
Toxic Sludge is Good For You! by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton
Environmental Working Group ( https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
Other chemical toxins in tap water can be found on the Environmental Working Group’s website
( https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ ). Here are some samples from local communities:

Providence: 1 toxin in excess of EWG guidelines
Total trihalomethanes: 348 times maximum
(Possible risks: cancer)

Pawtucket: 10 toxins in excess of EWG guidelines:
Arsenic: 83 times maximum
Bromodichloromethane 180 times maximum
Chloroform: 58 times maximum
Chromium (hexavalent) 3.8 times maximum
Dibromochloromethane: 39 times maximum
Dichloroacetic acid 14 times maximum
Nitrates: 10 times maximum
Nitrate plus nitrite 11 times maximum
Total trihalomethanes: 298 times maximum
Trichloroacetic acid: 24 times maximum
(All are possible carcinogens)

Cranston: 6 toxins in excess of EWG guidelines
Bromochloromethane 101 times maximum
Bromoform 4.7 times maximum
Chloroform 113 times maximum
Dichloracetic 17 times maximum
Total trihalomethanes: 351 times maximum
Trichloroacetic acid 3.1 times maximum
(all carcinogens)

Warwick: 10 toxins in excess of EWG guidelines
Bromodichloromethane 65 times maximum
Bromoform: 13 times maximum
Chloroform: 96 times maximum
Dibromochloromethane 6 times maximum
Dichloroacetic acid: 20 times maximum
Nitrates: 9.2 times maximum
Nitrate plus nitrite: 12 times maximum
Radium 2.4 times maximum
Total trihalomethanes: 357 times maximum
Trichloroacetic acid 3.2 times maximum
Many other toxins were also found in these communities’ water supplies but did not exceed
EWG’s limits.

Remember, a normal toxin level is ZERO. The upper limits are not clearly defined. They are
only based on the best science presently available.
Also remember that combining different toxins and pharmaceuticals may have unpredicted
effects, since the effects of only one toxin at a time are usually studied, NOT the effects of
multiple low level toxins.
Chlorine and fluorine are viewed by government as safe to consume in water, but there is
research suggesting it is not. A water filter that removes fluorine is worth considering.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF WATER POLLUTION?
Use a high quality water filter for drinking, cooking and even showering. Don’t drink
unfiltered water.
Check your water for contamination using EWG’s website, or get your water tested.
Sign petitions or lobby your local congresspersons directly asking them to take action to
clean up the water in Rhode Island.
Call your federal congressional representatives and senators and ask them to pass
legislation that will enable local municipalities to clean up their water, but don’t count on
Washington to get too much done very quickly.

Contribute to cleanwateraction ( https://www.cleanwateraction.org ) who will lobby on
your behalf and on behalf of millions.