Nothing is more alarming than discovering you have been exposed to dangerous substances in the water you use daily. Whether for consuming, cooking, or bathing, you come in contact with public drinking water daily. When the water you use for everyday purposes contains unsafe amounts of contaminants, your health can be jeopardized.
Even more alarming, you do not know what type of contaminants are found in the water. You can be exposed to several contaminants that can cause serious health conditions like cancer. When you have concerns about contaminated water, call a water contamination attorney at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC.
What Types of Contaminants Are Found in Water?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), four types of contaminants can be found in water. These types include physical, chemical, biological, and radiological.
Physical Contaminants
Physical contaminants can affect the physical appearance or properties of the water. Some examples of physical contaminants include the organic material found in lakes or rivers.
Chemical Contaminants
Chemical contaminants are contaminants that are either man-made or that occur naturally. Some examples of chemical contaminants include pesticides, nitrogen, bleach, and animal or human drugs.
Biological Contaminants
Biological contaminants are contaminants from organisms that are in the water. Some examples of biological contaminants include microbiological contaminants from bacteria, protozoa, and parasites.
Radiological Contaminants
Radiological contaminants are chemical contaminants that contain an uneven number of protons and neutrons. Some examples of radiological contaminants include uranium and plutonium.
What Naturally Occurring Contaminants Are Found in Water that Can Increase Cancer Risk?
Unfortunately, there are some naturally occurring contaminants found in water that can increase the risk of cancer. These contaminants include arsenic, disinfection byproducts, nitrate, and more.
Arsenic
If you ingest high levels of arsenic, you risk suffering from bladder cancer. Although the health risks associated with exposure to lower levels of arsenic are still unknown, medical professionals are still investigating the link between bladder cancer risk and lower levels of arsenic.
Disinfection byproducts
Disinfection byproducts are created in water when other organic materials in water combine with chlorine. These dangerous combinations may increase the risks of bladder and rectal cancer.
Nitrate
Nitrate is a contaminant that is discovered in water that is closer to agricultural areas. Ingesting nitrate can increase the risks of stomach, colon, and kidney cancer.
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How Many Contaminants in Total Are Discovered in Water that Can Cause Cancer?
In September 2019, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) conducted a study to determine the cancer risk from the combination of chemical contaminants found in tap water. The study revealed that contaminated drinking water could be connected to an estimated 100,000 cancer cases in the United States.
According to the agency, the cancer case estimate measures the calculated risk of people drinking water over at least 70 years. The study also revealed that most cancer risk stems from exposure to arsenic and disinfection byproducts.
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If a Water System Meets National Drinking Water Standards, does that Mean It Is Free of Contaminants?
Simply put, no. In the EWG study, the organization investigated at least 48,363 water systems. Most of those water systems complied with the national drinking water standards. A water system can meet the country’s water standards and still contain dangerous substances.
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Is Bottled Water Safer to Consume than Tap Water?
Many people assume that bottled water is safer to consume than tap water. In reality, bottled water can possess contaminants as well. Contaminated bottled water can cause serious health conditions like reproductive, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders.
People with weakened immune systems from other serious conditions like diabetes or people who have experienced chemotherapy have a greater risk of becoming seriously ill from the contaminants found in bottled water.
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What Steps Can I Take to Remove Contaminants from My Drinking Water?
One of the most common ways to help remove water contaminants is to simply boil it. Boiling water helps to eliminate the bacteria found in water. However, boiling water does not help eliminate the chemical contaminants found in water.
When you want to remove the chemical contaminants, you can take advantage of different water filtration systems. There are reverse osmosis systems, water purifiers, water filters, and distillers that can reduce and eliminate the different substances in your water. In addition to using filter systems, you can boil the drinking water before consuming it.
What Are My Legal Options?
If your cancer has been linked to exposure to contaminated water, you have the right to sue the appropriate party for your diagnosis. Because certain chemical contaminants have been associated with hundreds of thousands of cancer cases in the country, you would have a strong chance of success in your lawsuit. In your lawsuit, you would have to establish a connection between your exposure to the contaminated water and your cancer diagnosis.
How Much does an Attorney Cost for a Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Because your water contamination lawsuit is a personal injury lawsuit, your attorney operates on a contingency fee basis. With a contingency fee arrangement, you and your attorney arrange to have a percentage of your compensation cover the cost of your attorney’s fees if you are successful in your lawsuit. That means that while your attorney is representing you, you do not have to worry about paying the usual hourly fees that attorneys charge.
Instead, your attorney will be compensated through an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation you receive from a successful lawsuit. If you do not obtain any compensation from your lawsuit, you still will not be responsible for paying your attorney’s fees.
Contact a Water Contamination Lawyer Today
As a victim of water contamination, you deserve to hold the appropriate parties responsible for your health conditions. At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu, & Montesi, PLC, we understand how important it is for you to seek justice for your injuries. Call our water contamination lawyers, or submit our case evaluation form to schedule your free consultation.
The sooner you discuss water contamination issues with an attorney, the sooner you can recover compensation for your illness.