CONTAMINANT CHART
| Type |
Contaminant
|
Possible Effect |
Source |
| Microbiological |
Coliform and Other bacteria |
Dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera |
Human and animal fecal matter |
|
Giardia Lambia |
Gastroenteric disease |
Human and animal fecal matter |
|
Legionella |
Legionnaire's disease |
Surface waters, some water heaters |
|
Turbidity |
Interferes with disinfecting, filtration |
Erosion, soil runoff and discharges |
| Inorganic Chemicals |
Asbestos |
Cancer |
Asbestos cement in water systems |
|
Arsenic |
Skin and nervous system toxicity |
Pesticide, industrial waste, smelting |
|
Barium |
Circulatory system effects |
Epoxy sealant, spent coal |
|
Cadmium |
Kidney effects |
Batteries, paints |
|
Fluoride |
Skeletal and dental damage |
Fluoridated water, fertilizer, aluminum |
|
Lead |
Kidney and nervous system disorders |
Lead pipe and lead-based solder |
|
Mercury |
Kidney and nervous system disorders |
Lead pipe and lead-based solder |
|
Nitrate |
Blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia) |
Fertilizer, sewage, animal waste |
|
Selenium |
Liver damage |
Smelting, coal/oil combustion |
| Organic Chemical |
Benzene |
Cancer |
Fuel, drugs, paint, pesticides |
|
Carbon Tetrachloride |
Cancer |
Cleaning solvents |
|
Endrin |
Liver, kidney and heart damage |
Insecticide on insects, rodents and birds |
|
Lindane |
Liver, kidney, nervous, immune and circulatory system damage |
Insecticides on cattle, cotton and soy beans |
|
Methoxychlor |
Growth, liver, kidney, nerve effects |
Insecticide for fruits, livestock and pets |
|
Radon |
Cancer |
Radionuclides |
|
Total Trihalomethanes |
Cancer |
Surface water treated with chlorine |
|
Toxaphene |
Cancer |
Insecticide on cattle, cotton and soybeans |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
Cancer |
Dry cleaning materials waste, solvents |
|
Vinyl Chloride |
Cancer |
PVC pipe, solvent breakdown |
