Millions of Americans exposed to contaminated drinking water: Report

​​​​​​​ISTANBUL

Millions of Americans are drinking water contaminated with harmful chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive substances, according to a report published Wednesday.

The Tap Water Database report published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, examined water quality data from nearly 50,000 water systems across the US collected between 2021 and 2023.

It identified 324 contaminants, with nearly all community water systems containing detectable levels of pollutants.

Although contamination levels often fall below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) legal limits, they frequently exceed the EWG’s health-based standards, raising concerns about long-term health effects.

"Outdated federal regulations continue to leave millions of people at risk of exposure to harmful substances," said Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist at EWG.

One major concern is the presence of toxic forever chemicals -- long lasting chemicals which break down very slowly over time, found in the drinking water of more than 143 million people. The chemicals have been linked to cancer, immune system damage and developmental issues.

Additionally, tap water across the US contains volatile organic compounds, nitrates, and arsenic, all of which are associated with cancer and serious health risks.

“Safe drinking water shouldn’t be a political debate – it’s a fundamental right … We must push for stronger, science-based regulations to ensure safe water for every American,” said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at EWG.