Politics Poisoning Public Health: What You Need to Know About ArsenicLily Dane Natural activities such as volcanic action, erosion of rocks, and forest fires can release arsenic into the environment. Arsenic is odorless and tasteless, and it enters drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices. From that report: The EPA was preparing to make their findings public in 2012, but an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity found that one member of Congress blocked the release of those findings and in turn, any new regulations: The following graph shows how many people out of 100,000 would eventually get cancer if they consumed the current EPA drinking water limit every day for these carcinogens. The risks from arsenic exposure are shockingly high compared to other known toxins: Clearly, the government will continue to interfere with the implementation of higher standards for water quality. To avoid or minimize exposure, there are things that we can do: 1. Limit rice consumption: Studies have shown that all rice, organic and conventional, has a high level of naturally occurring arsenic and can also be contaminated by arsenic-containing pesticides. Limit or avoid using brown rice syrup as a sweetener. Avoid consumption of rice milk: Consumer Reports tested two common brands for arsenic and found that all samples exceeded EPAs drinking water limit of 10 parts per billion. The range in rice milk was 17 to 70 parts per billion. Daisy Luther of The Organic Prepper provides instructions on proper washing of rice to reduce contamination here. 2. Check your drinking water: To find out if your drinking water contains arsenic, check EWGs Tap Water Database. If you drink well water, contact your local health department to get it tested. If your water does contain arsenic, stop drinking it. Switch to reverse osmosis water instead this can either be purchased in bottles or you can prepare it at home by using a reverse osmosis system. Simple water filters will NOT remove arsenic from water. If you opt to use a home reverse osmosis system, continue to check your water for arsenic periodically. 3. Limit fruit juice consumption: Arsenic-based pesticides were used on fruit orchards in the early 1900s, and soil contamination remains an ongoing source of arsenic in tree fruits and grapes. Testing shows that some samples of apple, grape, and pear juices and juice blends have moderate amounts of arsenic. 4. Buy organic chicken. Arsenic is sometimes administered in conventional chicken farming to promote growth, add pigment to flesh, and prevent disease among chickens kept in close quarters. 5. Test the soil in your yard: If you have a deck, playset or garden beds made from pressure-treated wood sold before 2004, the soil in your yard could be contaminated with arsenic. Pressure-treated wood sold for home use prior to 2004 contained chromated copper arsenate, or CCA, which prevented insect damage and rot. Its been banned since then because it was found that over time it released toxic arsenic into soil and even childrens hands as they played on the structures. (source) Arsenic soil test kits can be used to see if your yard is contaminated. Dont count on the government to protect you and your family from arsenic (or any other) toxic substances. Political interests and corruption interfere with research and the development of truly safe standards. Lily Dane is a staff writer for The Daily Sheeple, where this first appeared. Her goal is to help people to Wake the Flock Up! 