| How Does It Get in the Water? | | | | water. Of course, the affects will depend on how |
| You may be wondering how arsenic can get into your | | | | much water you are consuming and the amount of |
| water supply in the first place. Well, often natural | | | | arsenic that is in the water. The time of exposure to |
| sources contaminate the water with the arsenic, but it | | | | the water will also have an impact. Two types of |
| can happen due to human activities as well. In the past | | | | arsenic poisoning can occur - acute poisoning and |
| there have been a variety of health disorders treated | | | | chronic poisoning. The acute poisoning happens when |
| by arsenic, and although arsenic for medical use has | | | | you ingest a large amount of arsenic in a short time, |
| declined somewhat, it is used and has even been | | | | while the chronic poisoning happens when you get |
| approved by the FDA for treating leukemia. Several | | | | small amounts of the arsenic in your water over a long |
| pesticides used in the past also contain arsenic, it is | | | | amount of time. Some studies have shown that this |
| used to treat wood, and is also has been used for | | | | type of exposure to arsenic can cause negative |
| manufacturing and for mining as well. All of these uses | | | | effects like increasing the risk of certain cancers, and |
| of the arsenic have led to traces of it being found in | | | | there can be endocrine, neurological, pulmonary, and |
| tap water today. | | | | cardiovascular problems as well. |
| How Do You Know It's There? | | | | It is definitely a good idea to have your water tested |
| So how do you know when there is arsenic in your | | | | to see if there is arsenic present. Having a good filter |
| water? Well, you probably don't. You can't tell by | | | | for your drinking water can be helpful as well. |
| smelling, looking, or by tasting the water if it contains | | | | However, you will want to ensure you get a filter that |
| any arsenic in it. There is only one way to figure out | | | | will filter out the arsenic in the water. Some of the |
| whether or not you have arsenic in your water, and if | | | | common treatments that are often used to treat this |
| so how much, and that is by testing the water for the | | | | problem include steam distillation, reverse osmosis, and |
| presence of the arsenic. | | | | ion exchange filters. Both faucet filters and outside |
| Arsenic and Your Health | | | | point of entry filters can be very helpful and they can |
| There are definitely some health effects that can | | | | help you to avoid arsenic poisoning from your tap |
| occur when you take in too much arsenic through your | | | | water. |