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What are the health risks associated with arsenic exposure?

• Arsenic is a well-researched substance that is known to cause various cancers; including:
  • liver cancer
  • bladder cancer
  • kidney cancer
  • lung cancer
  • skin cancer
• Other health effects include:
  • heart disease
  • diabetes
  • immune effects
  • respiratory problems

Why are pregnant people and children especially vulnerable?

Arsenic crosses the placenta and may affect fetal development. During pregnancy, the developing baby can be exposed to arsenic from mother’s blood. In contrast, breast milk is safe, and does not contain inorganic arsenic. Infants and children may be more sensitive to the effects of arsenic than adults. Exposure to arsenic during development and early childhood has been linked to adverse effects later in life, including:

• increased risks of intelligence defects
• respiratory disease
• cardiovascular disease
• certain cancers as adults

How can people reduce their exposure to arsenic?

• 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 hardware stores are not effective for arsenic removal. Note also that boiling water does not remove arsenic from water.
• For a long term solution, it is should strongly consider either installing an appropriate treatment system or connecting to a public water supply, if possible. More information regarding arsenic water treatment can be found here.

If your water has elevated arsenic, more information about water treatment recommendations can be found on the NJDEP Private Well Arsenic Treatment page.

Should people test their urine or blood for arsenic?

It is not recommend to test for urine or blood arsenic levels. Several types of tests are available, but results can be difficult to interpret because there are no accepted standard values to compare “normal” from “elevated” test results. Test results can also be misleading if seafood was eaten recently because the forms of arsenic found in seafood are non-toxic and complicate the test results. Instead, it is recommended to test your well water for arsenic. Once arsenic in the source is reduced, blood levels of arsenic will also quickly decline.

 

You can find more information regarding health effects of arsenic exposure from the NJ Department of Health Arsenic fact sheet or on the New Jersey Arsenic Awareness Initiative Website.

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Why should we have our well tested for arsenic?

• Arsenic cannot be detected by taste, smell, or sight, even at high concentrations. The only way to know if you have arsenic in your drinking water is to test it.
• Regulations and testing enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) are only limited to public water sources and does not include private wells. Private well homeowners are solely responsible for the quality of their water.

Where can we get our well water tested?

• A list of NJDEP certified laboratories can be found here.

What is the New Jersey drinking water standard for arsenic?

• The New Jersey Maximum contaminant Level is 5 μg/L. NJ PWTA standards can be found here. All NJ drinking water standards can be found here.

How often should we get our well tested for arsenic?

• NJDEP suggests testing your well water on a regular basis.
• If your arsenic level is:
  • Greater than 2.5 μg/L; you should test every year
  • Below 2.5 μg/L: you should test at least every five years

More information about water testing recommendations can be found on the NJDEP Private Well Testing page.

What do the test results mean?

• If arsenic levels are greater than 5 μg/L, it is recommended that a whole house arsenic treatment system be installed.
• To reduce exposure immediately, bottled water is encouraged until treatment is installed.
• Importantly, a passing result for arsenic does not imply your water is safe to drink with respect to other water quality parameters.

The NJDEP, in collaboration with Barnard College, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and others, has developed a series of arsenic-related educational videos. The videos provide arsenic awareness for adults and children and information on testing your well water. More information can be found on the New Jersey Arsenic Awareness Initiative Website.

What are my options for treating arsenic in my well water?

Two main treatment options are recommended:

• Point-of-Use (POU) filters, which treat specific faucets
• Point-of-Entry (POE) systems, which treat all water in the home

POU filters are generally a less expensive alternative; however, POE systems are more often recommended considering it treats all the water in the home. Once water treatment has been installed, the treated water should be tested to ensure that the system is functioning properly. Testing should also be completed annually to ensure the system is still working effectively.

The sampling point will vary depending on the design of the treatment system and the NGJS information circular provides guidance for the typical sampling point.

The New Jersey Geological Survey has an excellent Arsenic Water Treatment for Private Wells in New Jersey information circular about arsenic water treatment options and costs for residential wells in New Jersey. There is also a FAQ information circular about arsenic water treatment. 

 

Are there any financing options to help with the cost of installing water treatment?

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has a 0% interest 10-year loan program  to help homeowners spread the initial cost of buying and installing the units.

 

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Below is a checklist to assist homeowners when choosing a suitable treatment option for arsenic. Here is a printable version.

• The system treats both Arsenic 3 and Arsenic 5
• Other water quality issues besides arsenic (e.g. bacteria, iron, gross alpha) will be addressed
• The system includes both pre and post-treatment sediment filters
• The system will process enough water to meet the household’s needs
• Choose between Point-of-Entry (whole house) and Point-of-Use (single tap) system
• Understand required maintenance
• After the system is installed, test your water to make sure it is working properly
• Test your water annually to make sure the treatment is still functioning properly

The NJDEP, in collaboration with Barnard College, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and others, has developed a series of arsenic-related educational videos. The videos provide arsenic awareness for adults and children and information on testing your well water. More information can be found on the New Jersey Arsenic Awareness Initiative Website.