Drinking Water Contaminants and Related Health Problems

[Coliform|Flouride|Nitrate|Sulfate|Sulfide|Nitrite|Iron|Sodium]

COLIFORM-The presence of coliform bacteria in your water supply is indicative of fecal pollution. Diseases such as diarrhea, Asiatic cholera, salmonellosis, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, urinary tract infections, ear infections, colitis and skin diseases may be spread through fecal contaminated water.
Click here to order test kit

FLUORIDE-Fluoride levels of 4.0 mg/l* or more may act as direct cellular poisons by interfering with calcium metabolism and enzyme mechanisms. Ingestion causes salivation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Later weakness, tremors, shallow respiration, spasms and convulsions may occur, as well as jaundice and urine suppression. It also may cause discoloration of the teeth.
Click here to order test kit

NITRATE-Levels of nitrates exceeding 10 mg/l as nitrogen have been shown to cause methemoglobinemia in infants. This results in oxygen deprivation which may be harmful to the developing nervous system of young children or cause death by suffocation. Symptoms include chocolate colored blood, headache, flushing of the skin, vomiting, dizziness, marked fall of blood pressure, cyanosis (bluish purple discoloration of skin and mucous membranes), collapse, coma and respiratory paralysis.
Click here to order test kit

SULFATE-Ingestion of sulfates in excess of 250 mg/l may cause pain in the abdomen, gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea, tenesmus (painful straining to empty bowels or bladder without the evacuation of them),and collapse.
Click here to order test kit

SULFIDE-Sulfide concentrations in excess of 0.1 mg/l can cause irritation and sensory loss. Ingestion of higher concentrations may cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, renal (kidney) injury, anoxic (absence of oxygen) effects and damage to the cells of the central nervous system. Sulfides have the odor of rotten eggs and may appear as black particles in the water.
Click here to order test kit

NITRITE-Levels of nitrites in excess of 1 mg/l may cause headaches, flushing of the skin, vomiting, dizziness, collapse, marked fall of blood pressure, cyanosis, coma and respiratory paralysis.
container]
Click here to order test kit

IRON-Iron limits of 0.3 mg/l were established as secondary standards because of their aesthetic problems of staining clothes and appliances. In dairy sanitation it should be less than 0.1 mg/l.
container]
Click here to order test kit

SODIUM-The acceptable limit of sodium in the water is 20.0 mg/l. Sodium is a problem for individuals with cardiovascular diseases.
container)
Click here to order test kit

Continue

mg/l = milligrams per liter