HEALTH EFFECTS OF HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL CHEMICAL

CONTAMINANTSCONTAMINANTSLinda HimmelbauerLinda Himmelbauer

ChemistChemist

U.S. EPA, Region VIIIU.S. EPA, Region VIII

Nitrate/NitriteNitrate/Nitrite

Radium*Uranium*Radon Radium*Uranium*Radon

Iron * Iron * ManganeseManganese

Sulfate* Fluoride* Sulfate* Fluoride* TDSTDS

ACUTE vs. CHRONICACUTE vs. CHRONIC

AcuteAcute - Symptoms show up in a - Symptoms show up in a short period of time (0-7 days)short period of time (0-7 days)

Sub-ChronicSub-Chronic - Symptoms show up in - Symptoms show up in 7 days - 7 years. 7 days - 7 years.

ChronicChronic - Symptoms show up in - Symptoms show up in 7 years - lifetime. 7 years - lifetime.

Chronic:Chronic:

CARCINOGEN vs. CARCINOGEN vs. NON-CARCINOGENNON-CARCINOGEN

CarcinogenCarcinogen - chemical found to - chemical found to cause cancer in laboratory animals cause cancer in laboratory animals or humans.or humans.

Non-CarcinogenNon-Carcinogen - chemical found to - chemical found to cause disorders and diseases such cause disorders and diseases such as reproductive abnormalities, as reproductive abnormalities, nervous system problems.nervous system problems.

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

– Inorganic IonInorganic Ion

– NONO33-- = Nitrate = Nitrate

– NONO22-- = Nitrite = Nitrite

– Potassium Nitrate, KNOPotassium Nitrate, KNO33

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

WHERE DO THEY COME WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?FROM?

SEWAGESEWAGE FERTILIZERSFERTILIZERS FEEDLOTSFEEDLOTS GEOLOGICALGEOLOGICAL

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

WHAT DOES Nitrate DO?WHAT DOES Nitrate DO? Non-CarcinogenicNon-Carcinogenic (+) essential nutrient for many photo- (+) essential nutrient for many photo-

synthetic processes synthetic processes AcuteAcute - Methaemoglobinaemia in bottle- - Methaemoglobinaemia in bottle-

fed infants “ blue baby syndrome”fed infants “ blue baby syndrome” ChronicChronic - diuresis, increased starchy - diuresis, increased starchy

deposits, hemorrhaging of the spleen.deposits, hemorrhaging of the spleen. (-)Nitrate converts to Nitrite in the body(-)Nitrate converts to Nitrite in the body

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

How to SAMPLE for NITRATE onlyHow to SAMPLE for NITRATE only Container:Container: PLASTIC PLASTIC

or GLASSor GLASS

Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (100 mL) (100 mL) Preservation:Preservation: Analyze as soon as Analyze as soon as

possible or refrigerate possible or refrigerate Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: 48 hours 48 hours

or 28 days if chlorinatedor 28 days if chlorinated

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

How to SAMPLE for How to SAMPLE for NITRATE & NITRITES onlyNITRATE & NITRITES only

Container:Container: PLASTIC (polyethylene, PLASTIC (polyethylene, etc.) etc.) or GLASS or GLASS

Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (200 mL) (200 mL) Preservation:Preservation: H H22SOSO44 acid to pH <2, acid to pH <2,

refrigerate refrigerate Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: 28 days 28 days

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTSINTERPRETATION OF RESULTS::

Units of Sample results Units of Sample results = mg/L nitrate as N = mg/L nitrate as N = mg/L nitrite as N= mg/L nitrite as N

MCL for Nitrate = 10 mg/LMCL for Nitrate = 10 mg/L MCL for Nitrite = 1.0 mg/L MCL for Nitrite = 1.0 mg/L

(40 CFR Part 141)(40 CFR Part 141)

NITRATES & NITRITESNITRATES & NITRITES

FOLLOW- UP MONITORING FOLLOW- UP MONITORING for MCL EXCEEDANCES…. for MCL EXCEEDANCES….

Confirmation sample within 24 hours of Confirmation sample within 24 hours of being notified.being notified.

If samples cannot be collected, notify If samples cannot be collected, notify public and the system is allowed a public and the system is allowed a maximum of two weeks to collect maximum of two weeks to collect confirmation sample.confirmation sample.

RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADONRADON

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Natural Sources, Erosion Natural Sources, Erosion of natural depositsof natural deposits

Human ActivitiesHuman Activities

RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADONRADON

WHAT DOES IT LOOK WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? LIKE?

All are ELEMENTSAll are ELEMENTS Radon : Rn Atomic #: 86Radon : Rn Atomic #: 86 Radium : Ra Atomic #: 88Radium : Ra Atomic #: 88 Uranium: U Atomic #: 92Uranium: U Atomic #: 92

RADIUM, Ra RADON, RADIUM, Ra RADON, RnRn

URANIUM, UURANIUM, U

Uraninite, UO2 (Pitchblende on right) Uraninite, UO2 (Pitchblende on right)

RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADONRADON

WHAT DO THEY DO ?WHAT DO THEY DO ?

Chronic Exposure Chronic Exposure CarcinogenicCarcinogenic increased risk of cancerincreased risk of cancer

RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADONRADON

How to SAMPLEHow to SAMPLE Container:Container: PLASTIC PLASTIC

or GLASS or GLASS

Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (500 mL to 18 L) (500 mL to 18 L) Type of Sample:Type of Sample: Grab or 4 quarter Grab or 4 quarter

compositecomposite Preservation:Preservation: acidify to pH <2 acidify to pH <2 Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: up to 1-year up to 1-year

RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADONRADON

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTSINTERPRETATION OF RESULTS:: Units of Sample results = pCi/L Units of Sample results = pCi/L

“picocuries per Liter”“picocuries per Liter” Action Level for gross alpha = 5 pCi/LAction Level for gross alpha = 5 pCi/L >5 pCi/L will trigger testing for Ra-226>5 pCi/L will trigger testing for Ra-226 if Ra-226 > 3 pCi/L, must test for Rd-228if Ra-226 > 3 pCi/L, must test for Rd-228 MCL for combined Ra 226-228 = 5 pCi/L.MCL for combined Ra 226-228 = 5 pCi/L. MCL for gross alpha = 15.0 pCi/LMCL for gross alpha = 15.0 pCi/L MCL for Radon, Rn - to be released 8/99.MCL for Radon, Rn - to be released 8/99.

IRON & MANGANESEIRON & MANGANESE

WHAT DOES IT LOOK WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?LIKE?

Fe, Iron Mn, Fe, Iron Mn, ManganeseManganese

IRON & MANGANESEIRON & MANGANESE

WHAT DO THEY DO?WHAT DO THEY DO? Secondary contaminants - Secondary contaminants -

for aesthetic value (40 CFR Part 143)for aesthetic value (40 CFR Part 143) (+) Fe essential nutrient in human (+) Fe essential nutrient in human

nutrition DW NOT considered a primary nutrition DW NOT considered a primary source. source.

Fe > .3 mg/L, Mn > .15 mg/L - stains Fe > .3 mg/L, Mn > .15 mg/L - stains laundry and plumbing fixtures, bad taste.laundry and plumbing fixtures, bad taste.

(-) can cause deposits in pipes(-) can cause deposits in pipes

IRON & MANGANESEIRON & MANGANESE

How to SAMPLEHow to SAMPLE Container:Container: PLASTIC (polyethylene, etc.) PLASTIC (polyethylene, etc.)

or GLASS or GLASS Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (50 mL) (50 mL)

can use same container for both analyses.can use same container for both analyses. Type of Sample:Type of Sample: Grab Grab Preservation:Preservation: acidify to pH <2 with acidify to pH <2 with

nitric acid (HNO3) nitric acid (HNO3) Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: 6 months 6 months

IRON & MANAGANESEIRON & MANAGANESE

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTSINTERPRETATION OF RESULTS:: Units of Sample results Units of Sample results

Mn = mg/L Mn = mg/L Fe = mg/LFe = mg/L

Secondary Standard Secondary Standard Mn = 0.05 mg/L Mn = 0.05 mg/L

Fe = 0.3 mg/L Fe = 0.3 mg/L

SULFATESULFATE

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Gypsum, CaSOGypsum, CaSO44-2(H2O) -2(H2O) Pyrite, FeSPyrite, FeS22

SOSO442-2-

Naturally OccurringNaturally Occurring

SULFATESULFATE

Secondary Standard Sulfate =250 Secondary Standard Sulfate =250 mg/Lmg/L

WHAT DOES IT DO?WHAT DOES IT DO? Taste and Odor problemsTaste and Odor problems possible diarrhea health effectspossible diarrhea health effects

SULFATESULFATE

How to SAMPLEHow to SAMPLE

Container:Container: PLASTIC or GLASS PLASTIC or GLASS Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (50 mL) (50 mL)

Type of Sample:Type of Sample: Grab Grab Preservation:Preservation: refrigerate refrigerate

Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: 28 days 28 days

FLUORIDEFLUORIDE

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Fluorite, CaF2Fluorite, CaF2

FF- -

Naturally OccurringNaturally Occurring

FLUORIDEFLUORIDE

Secondary Standard = 2.0 mg/LSecondary Standard = 2.0 mg/L What does it do?What does it do?

Small amounts, help reduce tooth Small amounts, help reduce tooth cavities.cavities.

In children whose teeth are forming, high F- exposure In children whose teeth are forming, high F- exposure can cause dental fluorosis with visible changes in the can cause dental fluorosis with visible changes in the teeth. teeth.

In adults, high fluoride over a long time can lead to In adults, high fluoride over a long time can lead to skeletal fluorosis with denser bones, joint pain, and a skeletal fluorosis with denser bones, joint pain, and a limited joint movement. limited joint movement.

FLUORIDEFLUORIDE

How to SAMPLEHow to SAMPLE

Container:Container: PLASTIC PLASTIC Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (50 mL) (50 mL) Type of Sample:Type of Sample: Grab Grab Preservation:Preservation: none required none required

Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: 28 days 28 days

TOTAL DISSOLVED TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS,SOLIDS,

TDSTDS

Dissolved solids come from rock Dissolved solids come from rock dissolved by water. dissolved by water.

Secondary Standard = 500 mg/LSecondary Standard = 500 mg/L

TOTAL DISSOLVED TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS,SOLIDS,

TDSTDS

How to SAMPLEHow to SAMPLE

Container:Container: PLASTIC or GLASS PLASTIC or GLASS Minimum Sample size:Minimum Sample size: (200 mL recc.) (200 mL recc.)

Preservation:Preservation: refrigerate refrigerate Maximum storage time:Maximum storage time: 7 days 7 days

(24 hour analysis preferred)(24 hour analysis preferred)