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By Jasmine Laws
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A new study by researchers at Columbia University has revealed the states that have higher rates of arsenic in public drinking water systems, most of which are in the West and Midwest.
Michigan, South Dakota, Nevada, and California were all states that had areas with levels of higher than 5 micrograms per liter of arsenic in the drinking water.
The study found that even low levels of arsenic in drinking water may increase the risk of below average birth weight and other adverse birth outcomes.
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Why It Matters
Arsenic is a natural element that can be found in soils, sediments, and groundwater, meaning it can feed into public drinking water systems. Water sources in some parts of the U.S. have higher naturally occurring levels of inorganic arsenic than other areas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
At high levels, exposure to arsenic can cause symptoms ranging from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to dehydration and shock. Long-term exposure has been associated with skin disorders and increased risks for diabetes, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer.
While EPA has determined that there is a safe level of exposure at less than 10 micrograms per liter, the new study suggests that the maximum level of accepted arsenic exposure may still be associated with health risks.
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What To Know
The study was conducted via review of 14,000 pregnancies across 35 cohort sites participating in the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, and its findings were published on the medical journal site JAMA Network earlier this week.
It also assessed the level of arsenic in public drinking water systems in various areas nationwide—based on data from 2017 to 2019, with the exception of Michigan, as data was not available in that time period for the state and instead was taken from 2009 to 2011.
The findings, as shown in the map above, revealed that Western and Midwestern states were more likely to have higher levels of arsenic in public drinking water.
The disparity is because some states "have elevated arsenic levels primarily due to natural geology, with some contribution from human activities," Vasilis Vasiliou, chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek.
"Arsenic naturally leaches from rocks into groundwater in regions with volcanic, mineral-rich, or sedimentary formations," which is common in the Southwest, Midwest, and parts of California's Central Valley, he said.
"Many affected communities depend on groundwater-fed wells, which are more prone to arsenic contamination than surface water," he added.
Vasiliou said that agricultural runoff and irrigation practices were also factors at play, particularly in areas like California's Central Valley or Nebraska's farming regions.
"Small rural and Indigenous communities often bear the highest burden, especially those relying on underfunded or poorly monitored water systems," he added.
"Many small water systems lack the capacity for frequent testing or advanced arsenic removal. Without federal or state investment, meaningful reduction in exposure is unlikely," Vasiliou said.
While the EPA continues to maintain that exposure to arsenic in drinking water at a level of less than 10 micrograms per liter "protects public health based on the best available science and ensures that the cost of the standard is achievable," some states have taken measures into their own hands.
New Jersey and New Hampshire have since enacted stricter limits of 5 micrograms per liter.
"The 10 micrograms per liter limit is a political and economic compromise, not a health-based standard, and likely insufficient to fully protect the public, especially over a lifetime of exposure," Vasiliou said.
What People Are Saying
**Vasilis Vasiliou, chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek: "**Even at low-to-moderate levels of chronic exposure (e.g., 5—10 µg/L), arsenic has been linked to cardiovascular disease, including increased risk of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and ischemic heart disease—possibly due to endothelial damage and oxidative stress. It has also been linked to type 2 diabetes, as arsenic can impair pancreatic β-cell function and glucose metabolism. Low-level exposure has also been associated with reduced cognitive performance, particularly in children, and possibly neurodegeneration in older adults. Chronic exposure, even at levels near or below the EPA maximum, has been linked to bladder, lung, skin, and possibly kidney and liver cancers. Arsenic disrupts immune function as well, increasing susceptibility to infections and possibly reducing vaccine effectiveness."
He added: "The current EPA maximum contaminant level of 10 µg/L was set in 2001, and enforced in 2006, based largely on cancer risk, balancing feasibility and cost. However, more recent studies suggest adverse health effects at levels well below 10 µg/L, especially for sensitive populations. A growing number of researchers argue that no safe threshold may exist for certain outcomes like prenatal exposure, cardiovascular disease, and cancer."
What Happens Next
The authors of the study called for further research to determine the influence of arsenic on public health, and stressed the importance of updating health-based water safety standards at both federal and state levels.
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