Tag: drinking water

Fluoridation in Drinking Water

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is aware of the National Toxicology Program’s recent review on fluoride exposure, Monograph on the State of the Science Concerning Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Cognition: A Systematic Review (August 2024) and the subsequent ruling by a federal court in California (September 2024) urging the EPA to take regulatory action regarding fluoride levels. 

At this time, VDH, and the CDC, recommend the use of fluoride to prevent cavities. However, VDH is interested in ongoing research related to fluoride. 

Additionally, VDH is committed to delivering safe drinking water to Virginians and working with Virginia waterworks to keep communities informed of developments related to drinking water treatment decisions. VDH receives and reviews a monthly operation report (MOR) from every community water system that delivers fluoridated drinking water and reports the results to the CDC’s Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS).  VDH also conducts site visits throughout the year and targets systems that are not fluoridating at optimal levels. 

For more information from the Virginia Department of Health please visit: 

Office of Drinking Water webpage 

Office of Drinking Water Fluoridation webpage 

Dental Health Program 

Community Water Fluoridation 

Fluoride Information Page 

Hurricane Helene and Flooded Homes

Posted on by Tox Team

Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26 in Florida, but then moved north, ending far inland. When it reached the Appalachian Mountains, heavy rainfall led to flash flooding and landslides. In southwest Virginia, many people are still without power and cell service, and roads are blocked by fallen trees or washed away by flooding. Virginia received approval for a federal emergency declaration for the counties of Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe and the City of Galax.  People needing help with cleanup can call the Hurricane Helene Crisis Clean Up hotline at 1-844-965-1386 and contact their local emergency manager for help. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) has a page for Hurricane Helene with information about cleanup and damage assessments.

If your home has been flooded, be cautious when returning. Flooded homes can have a variety of dangers, such as electric shocks, mold, broken glass and other debris, bacteria in flood water and mud, and structural problems. Don’t return to the area until local officials have said it is safe. Do not enter a flooded home until it has been inspected to make sure it is safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has guidance for cleaning up a flooded home.

Drinking water systems may not be able to disinfect water properly because of flooding. Before you drink the water, check with your water utility to make sure there is not a boil water advisory. For a boil water advisory, bring water to a rolling boil and let it boil for one minute, then cool before using. Some communities will also have drinking water distribution points. Check with your local officials for where you can go to get bottled water.

 

 

EPA Announces new Drinking Water Standards for PFAS

Posted on by Tox Team

The EPA has announced new drinking water standards for per- and poly-fluorinated compounds, also called PFAS. These chemicals have unique properties that make them useful for reducing sticking and friction between surfaces. They are used in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, stain-resistant clothes, household cleaners, paints and finishes, and industrial machinery. Unfortunately, many PFAS have been found to be harmful to people’s health, and are “forever chemicals” that can be found in the environment for many years. People can reduce their exposure to PFAS in consumer produces by using EPA Safer Choice certified products, and EPA is now reducing PFAS in drinking water.

There are hundreds of PFAS, but the EPA is focusing on a handful. The PFAS EPA is focusing on are linked to health effects including several types of cancer and reduced immunity. EPA is setting individual limits for five PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals). EPA is also setting a limit on mixtures exceeding a safe level of a group of four PFAS (PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX Chemicals).  Drinking water systems will be required to test for these chemicals and treat the water to lower their concentration if they are too high. The new standards will be implemented over the next few years. Drinking water systems must test their water for PFAS and report the results to customers within three years. They must treat water to meet the new standards within five years.