Protecting Your Drinking Water from Heavy Metals

Metals are naturally occurring elements found on Earth. Most heavy metals pose little risk to human health; however, some metals can be harmful when their levels increase inside the human body. Children and fetuses can be particularly vulnerable to high levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead. Contaminated drinking water is one way that humans consume inordinately high levels of heavy metals.  

Chronic arsenic poisoning affects the skin, digestive system, and brain functions, and has been linked to several types of cancer. Overexposure to cadmium can also cause cancer as well as kidney and musculoskeletal problems, though milder cases lead to fever and gastrointestinal problems. Lead is dangerous to humans’ neurological functions. Copper can cause gastrointestinal problems in the short term, and may lead to liver or kidney damage long-term.

Water contamination can occur in many ways. Cadmium levels can rise when people consume drinking water that has passed through galvanized pipes where the impurities in zinc have seeped into the water through fittings, water heaters, taps, and coolers. 

Volcanic activity can cause arsenic to enter the water supply, but activities such as mining have also caused arsenic levels to rise. Insufficiently treated groundwater can sometimes lead to accumulating amounts of lead and copper, but this is typically an issue with homeowners who live in residences older than the 1930s when lead pipes were more common. Until the 1980s, lead pipes were used regularly and it was possible for the lead to leach into the water system. 

To verify that your water isn’t contaminated by heavy metals, check your water supply’s Consumer Confidence Report. This report shows consumers the results of the most recent water quality testing and what actions are being taken by the supplier if the water is contaminated beyond acceptable levels. 

You will also want to verify that your home’s plumbing system is safe to use. To do this, you want to have the water tested by a certified water testing laboratory. Next, you want to have a licensed plumber examine your infrastructure including all pipes, fittings, and taps. If your home has an outdated system that uses lead pipes, a plumber can help make those updates. If you are concerned about your home’s drinking water, ensure your refrigerator filter is capable of removing heavy metals or consider installing a water cooler. 

For more information about heavy metals and how they can affect you and your family, reach out to us at Chelation Health Products. We’re here to help in any way we can!