County agent disputes fears of arsenic levels

Leon Church, Donley County Agent

There has been a lot of talk lately in the news about the threat or risk to humans from the arsenic levels allowed in drinking water.  

The current standard allowed  for arsenic is 0.05 parts per million (ppm).  This level has caused some people to demand that our government  set into action ways to reduce this allowable standard level.  What is the real risk? Is this risk large enough to warrant the cost necessary to reduce these levels?

Make no mistake about it, arsenic is toxic, as are many of the pesticides we use.  We need to understand that risk is every where, from the time we wake up and start our day until we return home. Even then we are at risk of severe storms and other natural occurring events.   No matter what we do, we are at risk. 

It is said that “it is morally wrong to perpetuate ignorance and through ignorance fear.”  Yet many groups fuel people’s fear in order to gain their desired outcome. Alar was a perfect example of using fear,  the arsenic issue is another example of fear based on ignorance.

An important concept to remember is “the dose determines the poison.” We hear a lot of comments in the news about chemical residues in water and food. What do they mean and do we really understand the quantities we are talking about?

Chemical residues are expressed in parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb) and now we have developed tests to measure parts per trillion (ppt).  Let’s put these figures into perspective.  What do they mean?

One part per million (ppm) is = one ounce of salt in 62,500 lbs. of sugar; = one square inch in the infield of a baseball diamond; = one inch in 16 miles; = one second in 11 days.           

One part per billion (ppb) is = one aspirin in 100,000 gallons of water (a swimming pool 25 ft x 100 ft x 4 ft); = one square foot in 36 square miles; = one inch in 16,000 miles; = one second in 32 years.

One part per trillion (ppt) is = one inch in 16,000,000 miles; = one pinch of salt in 10,000 tons of potato chips.

The standard allowable limit for arsenic in drinking water is 0.05 parts per million.  What is the risk?  Is the dose large enough to make a difference?  Science says no, and especially at the costs associated with reducing these levels further.

These same fears are associated with pesticide use. Understand that these chemicals are toxic and should be treated with respect. 

Let’s not let ignorance and fear rob us of tools we need to produce food and fiber needed for the future of the human population.  Nor should we allow people to use fear to advance an unnecessary agenda.