Frequently Asked Questions - Arsenic exposure and health
- Arsenic is a well-established carcinogen, causing liver, bladder, kidney, lung and skin cancer.
- Other associated health effects include heart disease, diabetes, immune effects and respiratory problems.
- In children, exposure is also associated with defects in intelligence.
- Arsenic crosses the placenta and may affect fetal development.
- Infants and children may be more sensitive to the effects of arsenic than adults.
- In utero and early life arsenic exposure has been linked to adverse effects later in life, including increased risks of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers as adults.
- The most immediate option is to switch to bottled water for all drinking and cooking. Note that simple water filters (such as the activated carbon filters) available in the hardware store are NOT effective for arsenic removal. Note also that boiling water DOES NOT remove arsenic from water.
- If your water has elevated arsenic, information on treatment options and providers is available at http://www.nj.gov/dep/pwta/Arsenic_Treatment.pdf and tinyurl.com/arsenichelp.
- Long term, families should strongly consider either installing an appropriate treatment system or connecting to a public water supply if possible. If a treatment system is installed, water should be tested annually to ensure water is safe for arsenic and the system is working. The State of NJ has a 0% interest 10-year loan program to help homeowners spread the initial cost of buying and installing the units.
- We do not recommend testing for urine or blood arsenic levels at this time. Several types of tests are available; however, results can be difficult to interpret because there are no widely accepted standard values to distinguish "normal" from "elevated" test results. Test results can also be misleading if seafood was consumed during the week prior to arsenic testing, as the forms of arsenic derived from seafood are not toxic and complicate the interpretation of internal arsenic levels.
- Instead, you are encouraged to take action to ensure that you are using a safe water source for drinking and cooking. Once arsenic in the source is reduced, blood levels of arsenic will also rapidly decline.
