Inorganic Chemical Contaminants                                                                      Human Health Effects                                                                                                                                                   9-22-2007 EPA Office of Water (sludge biosolids and reclaimed water) generally claim a lack of data for human exposure to  chemicals in sludge biosolids and reclaimed water, even though EPA published a list of cancer causing chemicals to be found in sludge biosolids in 1989.  In spite of the documented evidence for potential public health damage, EPA ignored these known cancer causing chemicals in its risk assessment. In 1995, EPA claimed none of the inorganic chemicals caused cancer in its sludge risk assessment. However, the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) show the chemicals can be very dangerous to humans. Even the EPA Office of Drinking water documents that these inorganic chemical contaminants can cause tremendous public health damage at very small MCL dose exposure. Both EPA  Offices ignore part of the List of 18 Hazardous Inorganic Constituents in Appendix II to Part 258   and DESIGNATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES in Part 116  and CERCLA even though Part 503.9(t) assures the public exposure to the inorganic chemical pollutants could cause death, disease cancer etc. EPA Office of Drinking Water  Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCL) / with health effects of inorganic chemicals in drinking water. Fluoride. Many communities add fluoride to their drinking water to promote dental health. Each community makes its own decision about whether or not to add fluoride. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for fluoride of 4 mg/L (some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of this level over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones). EPA has also set a secondary fluoride standard of 2 mg/L to protect against dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine should not drink water that has more than 2 mg/L of fluoride. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/hfacts.html What are the Health Effects? Antimony MCL: 6 ppb Short-term: EPA has found antimony to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Long-term: Antimony has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: AND/OR- Antimony is a (known/potential drinking water) human carcinogen. OR- No reliable data are available concerning health effects from long-term exposure to antimony in drinking water. Not addressed in Part 503 sludge biosolids. Arsenic EPA has set the arsenic standard for drinking water at .010 parts per million (10 parts per billion) to protect consumers served by public water systems from the effects of long-term, chronic exposure to arsenic. Non-cancer effects can include thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting; diarrhea; numbness in hands and feet; partial paralysis; and blindness. Arsenic has been linked to cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate. Part 503 Ceiling level of Arsenic in biosolids 75 ppm More on Arsenic environmental exposure. Asbestos MCL 7 million fibers per liter Short-term: Asbestos is not known to cause any health problems when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time. Long-term: Asbestos has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: lung disease; cancer. Not addresses in Part 503 sludge biosolids More on Asbestos Barium The MCL has also been set at 2 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: EPA has found barium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: gastrointestinal disturbances and muscular weakness. Long-term: Barium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: high blood pressure. Beryllium The MCL has also been set at 4 ppb because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: EPA has found barium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: inflammation of the lungs when inhaled; less toxic in drinking water. Long-term: Beryllium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to bones and lungs; cancer. Not addressed in Part 503 sludge biosolids. More on Beryllium environmental exposure. Cadmium The MCL has also been set at 5 ppb because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant if it occurs in drinking water. Short-term: EPA has found cadmium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, salivation, sensory disturbances, liver injury, convulsions, shock and renal failure. Long-term: Cadmium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: kidney, liver, bone and blood damage. Part 503 Ceiling level of Cadmium in sludge biosolids 85 ppm More on Cadmium environmental exposure. Chromium The MCL has also been set at 0.1 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: EPA has found chromium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: skin irritation or ulceration. Long-term: Chromium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to liver, kidney circulatory and nerve tissues; skin irritation. Ceiling level of chromium in sludge biosolids given in Part 403  100,000 ppm. Part 503 ceiling level of chromium in a permitted surface disposal site 600 ppm More on Chromium environmental exposure Copper The Action Level for copper has also been set at 1.3 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to control this contaminant should it occur in drinking water at their customers home taps. Short- and long-term effects: Copper is an essential nutrient, required by the body in very small amounts. However, EPA has found copper to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the Action Level. Short periods of exposure can cause gastrointestinal disturbance, including nausea and vomiting. Use of water that exceeds the Action Level over many years could cause liver or kidney damage. People with Wilsons disease may be more sensitive than others to the effect of copper contamination and should consult their health care provide Part 503 Ceiling levels of Copper 4,300 ppm More on Copper environmental exposure. Cyanide The MCL has been set at 0.2 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: EPA has found cyanide to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: rapid breathing, tremors and other neurological effects Long-term: Cyanide has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: weight loss, thyroid effects, nerve damage Not addressed in Part 503. More on Cyanide Lead The MCLG for lead has been set at zero because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below. The Action Level for lead has been set at 15 ppb (parts per billion)  because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to control this contaminant should it occur in drinking water at their customers home taps. Short- and Long-term effects: Lead can cause a variety of adverse health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time. These effects may include interference with red blood cell chemistry, delays in normal physical and mental development in babies and young children, slight deficits in the attention span, hearing, and learning abilities of children, and slight increases in the blood pressure of some adults. Long-term effects: Lead has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: stroke and kidney disease; cancer. Part 503 ceiling level of lead in sludge biosolids 800 ppm More on Lead environmental exposure. Mercury The MCL has also been set at 2 ppb because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short- or Long-term: EPA has found mercury to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: kidney damage. Part 503 Ceiling level of Mercury in sludge biosolids  57 ppm More on Mercury environmental exposure. Nitrate and Nitrite The MCL for nitrates has been set at 10 ppm, and for nitrites at 1 ppm, because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body, which can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the childs blood. This can be an acute condition in which health deteriorates rapidly over a period of days. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Long-term: Nitrates and nitrites have the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: diuresis, increased starchy deposits and hemorrhaging of the spleen. Nitrates and nitrites are not addressed in Part 503. Selenium The MCL has been set at 0.05 ppm because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: Selenium is an essential nutrient at low levels. However, EPA has found selenium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: hair and fingernail changes; damage to the peripheral nervous system; fatigue and irritability. Long-term: Selenium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: hair and fingernail loss; damage to kidney and liver tissue, and the nervous and circulatory systems. Part 503 ceiling level of Selenium in sludge biosolids 100 ppm More on Selenium environmental exposure Thallium The MCL has been set at 2 ppb because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water. Short-term: EPA has found thallium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: gastrointestinal irritation; nerve damage. Long-term: Thallium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: changes in blood chemistry; damage to liver, kidney, intestinal and testicular tissues; hair loss. Not addressed in Part 503 More on Thallium environmental exposure.