Even at low levels, arsenic is a dangerous toxin. Arsenic is a common water contaminant and is a problem for most public and private drinking water systems.
Arsenic is strongly linked to a number of cancers including bladder, kidney, liver, lung, prostrate and even skin cancer. Arsenic can also cause anemia, skin lesions, and peripheral neuropathy. Arsenic in children is even more troubling as it can lead to cognitive deficits, growth problems, breathing problems, immune problems, epilepsy, and hearing loss.
There is no safe level for Arsenic.
The EPA limit and World Health Organization suggested level are both less than 10 PPB. However, this isn’t indicative of safety; rather, it’s because delivering bulk water with lower arsenic concentrations is deemed economically impractical. These levels are 2,500 times what some consider to be the maximum tolerable level of arsenic. Given its prevalence in certain soils, ample information is available, and the US Geological Survey provides maps of Arsenic concentrations across the United States.
Health Effects from Exposure to Arsenic
Video Credit to MIT Civil and Environmental Engineering
Drinking Water
| High Chemical Danger | There is no known use for arsenic in the human body and even small concentrations are poisonous. If you have arsenic in your water, don’t drink it. |
| No Radiation Danger | The only Arsenic isotope found in nature is stable and does not pose a radiation risk. |
| No Biological Danger | The principal risk of Arsenic poisoning is through ingestion. |
Contact Water (Sink, Bath, Shower)
| Minimal Chemical Danger | Principal routes of exposure to Arsenic are through injection and lung inhalation of arsenic dust. Dangers from skin exposure are not known, and incidents have not been widely reported. It is not advised to brush your teeth with arsenic, water containing but it is thought to be generally safe to shower or bath in water that contains arsenic. |
| No Radiation Danger | The only Arsenic isotope found in nature is stable and does not pose a radiation risk. |
| No Biological Danger | The principal risk of Arsenic poisoning is through ingestion. |
Solutions
Drinking Water – Point of Use or at the sink
| Reverse Osmosis | Reverse Osmosis filters, remove a broad range of organic, inorganic, and biological toxins by concentrating and flushing them to the drain, providing you with a full year of worry-free drinking water. Units are easy to install and service. |
| Ion Exchange Resin | Industries use ion removal resin to create ultra-pure water for precision manufacturing processes. They trap heavy metals in a disposable filter cartridge that is replaced every year. |
| Filter33 | This specialized Heavy Metal Adsorbent is provided by the water treatment experts at Clarus Water Solutions. This material is used by Municipalities and other industries to remove harmful heavy metals. This material is not yet packaged for residential use. |
Contact Water (Sink, Bath, Shower) – Point of Entry or Whole House
| Reverse Osmosis | Reverse Osmosis filters, remove a broad range of organic, inorganic, and biological toxins by concentrating and flushing them to the drain, providing you with a full year of worry-free drinking water. Units are easy to install and service. |
| Ion Exchange Resin | Industries use ion removal resin to create ultra-pure water for precision manufacturing processes. They trap heavy metals in a disposable filter cartridge that is replaced every year. |
| Filter33 | This specialized Heavy Metal Adsorbent is provided by the water treatment experts at Clarus Water Solutions. This material is used by Municipalities and other industries to remove harmful heavy metals. This material is not yet packaged for residential use. |
Detection Methods
Detecting Arsenic in water requires professional water analysis. If you are concerned about the possible concentrations of Arsenic in your water, please get in touch with WattsOregon for testing services. We will send sample bottles to your home and will provide prompt sample results.
Arsenic Isotopes – Unlocking the Environmental Code
There are 33 known isotopes of Arsenic, but only one of them Arsenic 25 exists in nature. Arsenic 25 is chemically toxic, it is not radioactive.
| Isotope | Environmental Average | Protons | Neutrons | Half-Life |
| Arsenic 75 | 100% | 33 | 42 | Stable – No Decay |
| Naturally Occurring Average | 33 | 42 | ||
| Arsenic 60-62 | Theoretical | 33 | 27-29 | |
| Arsenic 63-66 | Synthetic | 33 | 30-33 | < 1 Sec |
| Arsenic 67-70 | Synthetic | 33 | 34-37 | < 1 Hour |
| Arsenic 71-72 | Synthetic | 33 | 38-39 | < 66 Hours |
| Arsenic 73-74 | Synthetic | 33 | 40-41 | < 81 Hours |
| Arsenic 76-77 | Synthetic | 33 | 43-44 | < 2 Days |
| Arsenic 78-79 | Synthetic | 33 | 45-46 | < 91 Min |
| Arsenic 80-91 | Synthetic | 33 | 47-58 | < 1 Min |
| Arsenic 92 | Theoretical | 33 | 59 |