Drinking California tap water could increase risk of cancer

NY POST  Scientists with the Environmental Working Group took an unfiltered look at data on the levels of toxic particles — including arsenic and radioactive elements like uranium and radium — that were coming from the tap between 2011 and 2015.

In the study published in the journal Environmental Health, the advocacy group found the combination of the contaminants could contribute to nearly 15,500 cases of cancer over the course of a lifetime. Scientists said the study is the first of its kind.

“Right now, policymakers set health limits one chemical at a time. This doesn’t match reality,” said lead author and senior EWG scientist Tasha Stoiber. “Multiple contaminants are often detected in drinking water across the US.”

Environmental Working Group's Tap Water Database; since 2012, water utilities' testing has found pollutants in Americans' tap water, according to an EWG drinking water quality analysis of 32 million state water records. TO CHECK ON THE WATER QUALITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY, click on EWG TAP WATER DATABASE