| Contaminant |
Source |
Health Effect |
| Asbestos |
Natural mineral deposits. Found in insulation, fireproofing materials, cement pipes. |
Probable cause of cancer. |
| Arsenic |
Defoliants, wood treatment compounds, paint and ink formulation, petroleum refining, pharmaceutical production, ore mining, foundries. |
Malignant tumors of skin and lungs. Effects nervous system. |
| Barium |
Natural ore found in GA, MO, AR, KY, CA, NV, Canada and Mexico. |
Effects nervous system and circulatory system. |
| Benzene |
Used in fuels, solvents, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, resins, and paints. |
Leukemia, anemia, cancer. |
| Cadmium |
Natural mineral deposits. Also found in fungicides, batteries, paint enamels. Used in textile, timber, petroleum, paint, ink, rubber, ore and pharmaceutical production. |
Kidney disorders, bronchitis, anemia. |
| Carbon Tetrachloride |
Used in cleaning agents, refrigerants, fumigants, propellants, resins, paint and ink manufacturing. |
Effects nervous system, liver, and digestive system. Causes cancer. |
| Chlorobenzene |
Used as a solvent for paint and metal manufacturing. Also used in insecticides. |
Effects nervous system, liver and kidneys. |
| Chromium |
Natural mineral deposits. Used in leather, tanning, iron, steel, textile, pharmaceutical, petroleum, and rubber processing. Also used in gum and wood chemicals and in foundries. |
Liver and kidney disorders. Effects skin and digestive system. |
| Coliform |
Raw sewage, septic tanks, animal feces. |
Effects digestive tract. |
Dichloroethane,
Dichlorobenzene,
Dichloropropane |
Used in manufacturing of gasoline, paint, varnish, insecticides, fumigants, waxes, resins, rubber, asphalt, moth repellant, germicides, pesticides, soil fumigants, dry cleaning fluids, and petroleum products. |
Causes damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs. Can cause nausea. Effects the nervous system. Dichlorobenzene 1,4 is a probable cause of cancer. |
| Dichloroethylene
| Used in Industrial solvents, in the manufacturing of dyes, plastics, perfumes, paints, adhesives, lacquers, and rubber. |
Effects kidneys, liver, circulatory system, and nervous system. |
| Ethylbenzene |
Used in manufacturing of gasoline, insecticides and asphalt. |
Effects nervous system, liver and kidneys. |
| Lead |
Solder and other plumbing products, batteries, textile mills, petroleum refining, paint, ink and rubber processing, porcelain enameling and foundries. |
Effects nervous system, reproductive system, and kidneys. Causes hypertension. |
| Mercury |
Found in fungicides, bactericides, antifouling paints, and mildew proofing preparations. Used in coal mining, textile mills, timber product processing, petroleum refining, rubber, paint and ink processing. |
Effects nervous system and kidneys. |
| Nitrate |
Fertilization, sewage, mineral deposits, feed-lot runoff. |
The deadly "Blue Baby" syndrome. |
| Pesticides (Aldicarb, Carbofuran, Chlordane, Endrin, Heptachlor, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Toxaphene) |
Insecticides for cotton, potatoes, corn and alfalfa. Also used as a fumigant. |
Effects the nervous system, respiratory system, liver and kidneys. |
| Selenium |
Natural mineral deposits. Commonly found as trace elements in animal feeds. Used in textile mills, timber processing, porcelain enameling, pharmaceutical manufacturing and foundries. |
Effects nervous system. Causes irritation to the mucous membrane and dermatitis. |
| Styrene |
Used in manufacturing process of plastics, resins and foams. |
Effects nervous system, liver and kidneys. |
Tetratchloroethylene,
Trichloroethylene,
Trichloroethane |
Used in dry cleaning, degreasing agents for metals and in manufacturing of rubber, waxes, paints, inks, adhesives, resins, oils and fumigants. |
Effects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer and anesthesia. Irritant of body tissue. Can cause narcosis |
| Total Trihalomethanes
(Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane) |
Forms when water containing organic matter is treated with chlorine. |
Effects nervous system and muscles. Probable cause of cancer. |
| Toluene |
Used in gasoline, paint, thinners, lacquers and adhesives. |
Effects nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Causes narcosis. Irritant to respiratory system. |
| Vinyl Chloride |
Used as a plastic adhesive and refrigerant. The main component of PVC pipe. |
Effects nervous system. Probable cause of cancer. |
| Xylenes |
Used in manufacturing of paint, ink, petroleum and detergents. |
Effects nervous system, kidneys, lungs, liver and mucous membranes. |
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