Clean Water, Healthy Minds: The importance of identifying and eliminating lead in drinking water

Participants will learn about the importance of identifying and eliminating lead in drinking water at schools and child care centers. Reducing lead exposure protects children’s health, improves educational attainment, and increases lifetime earnings. During this session, participants will review health effects of exposure to lead, learn about lead in drinking and cooking water, and better understand actions that can reduce exposure to lead in water. We will share results from water testing in schools and child care facilities. There will be time for discussion about collaborating for testing and action around lead in water

Origin of Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water Wells from the Piedmont Aquifers of North Carolina

Hexavalent chromium [Cr­(VI)] is a known pulmonary carcinogen. Recent detection of Cr­(VI) in drinking water wells in North Carolina has raised public concern about contamination of drinking water wells by nearby coal ash ponds. Here we report, for the first time, the prevalence of Cr and Cr­(VI) in drinking water wells from the Piedmont region of central North Carolina, combined with a geochemical analysis to determine the source of the elevated Cr­(VI) levels. We show that Cr­(VI) is the predominant species of dissolved Cr in groundwater and elevated levels of Cr and Cr­(VI) are found in wells located both near and far (>30 km) from coal ash ponds. The geochemical characteristics, including the overall chemistry, boron to chromium ratios, and strontium isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) variations in groundwater with elevated Cr­(IV) levels, are different from those of coal ash leachates. Alternatively, the groundwater chemistry and Sr isotope variations are consistent with water–rock interactions as the major source for Cr­(VI) in groundwater. Our results indicate that Cr­(VI) is most likely naturally occurring and ubiquitous in groundwater from the Piedmont region in the eastern United States, which could pose health risks to residents in the region who consume well water as a major drinking water source

A Participatory Science Approach to Evaluating Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Metals and PFAS in Guatemala City Tap Water

Limited information is available regarding chemical water quality at the tap in Guatemala City, preventing individuals, water utilities, and public health authorities from making data-driven decisions related to water quality. To address this need, 113 participants among households served by a range of water providers across the Guatemala City metropolitan area were recruited as participatory scientists to collect first-draw and flushed tap water samples at their residence. Samples were transported to the U.S. and analyzed for 20 metals and 25 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). At least one metal exceeded the Guatemalan Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) for drinking water in 63% of households (n = 71). Arsenic and lead exceeded the MPL in 33.6% (n = 38) and 8.9% (n = 10) of samples, respectively. Arsenic was strongly associated with groundwater while lead occurrence was not associated with location, water source, or provider. One or more PFAS were detected in 19% of samples (n = 21, range 2.1–64.2 ppt). PFAS were significantly associated with the use of plastic water storage tanks but not with location, water source, or provider. Overall, the high prevalence of arsenic above the MPL in Guatemala City tap water represents a potential health risk that current water treatment processes are not optimized to remove. Furthermore, potential contaminants from premise plumbing and storage, including lead and PFAS, represent additional risks requiring further investigation and public engagement