Possible Health
Effects |
| Type |
Contaminant |
Possible Health
Effects |
Sources of
Contaminants In Your Drinking Water |
| Microbiological |
Cryptosporidium |
Cryptosporidosis |
Human and animal fecal wastes |
|
Giardia |
Gastroenteric disease |
Human and animal fecal
wastes |
|
Coliform bacteria |
Gastroenteric disease, including dysentery,
cholera |
Human and animal fecal wastes |
| Inorganic
chemicals |
Asbestos |
Cancer |
Natural deposits; asbestos
cement in some aqua systems |
|
Barium |
Circulatory system effects |
Natural deposits; pigments, epoxy sealant,
spent coal |
|
Fluoride |
Skeletal and dental damage (tooth
discoloration) |
Natural deposits; fertilizer, aluminum
industry; additive |
|
Lead |
Kidney and nervous system
damage |
Natural/industrial deposits;
plumbing, solder, brass alloy faucets |
|
Mercury (inorganic) |
Kidney, nervous system disorders |
Crop runoff; natural deposits; batteries,
electrical switches |
|
Nitrate |
Methemoglobulinemia (Blue
Baby Syndrome) |
Animal waste, fertilizer,
natural deposits, septic tanks, sewage |
| Organic
chemicals |
Alachlor |
Cancer |
Runoff from herbicide on
corn, soybeans, and other crops |
|
Atrazine |
Mammary gland tumors |
Runoff from use as herbicide on corn and
non-cropland |
|
Benzene |
Cancer |
Gasoline, drugs, pesticides,
paint, plastic industries |
|
Dioxin |
Cancer |
Chemical production
by-product; impurity in herbicides |
|
Endrin |
Liver, kidney, heart damage |
Pesticide on insects, rodents, birds;
restricted since 1980 |
|
Lindane |
Liver, kidney, nervous,
immune, circulatory system effects |
Insecticide on cattle,
lumber, gardens; restricted since 1983 |
|
Methoxychlor |
Growth, liver, kidney, nerve effects |
Insecticide for fruits, vegetables, alfalfa,
livestock, pets |
|
PCBs |
Cancer |
Coolant oils from electrical
transformers; plasticizers |
|
Styrene |
Liver and nervous system damage |
Plastics, rubber, resin, drug industries;
leachate from city landfills |
|
Toluene |
Liver, kidney, nervous and
circulatory system effects |
Gasoline additive;
manufacturing and solvent operations |
|
Vinyl Chloride |
Cancer |
May leach from PVC pipe;
formed by solvent break down |
| Source: EPA Get help choosing
the right filter.
Do You Know What Is In Your Drinking Water? |
