We hear the term industrial a lot in the news and in our social media feeds, but what does it really mean?
Industrial refers to the production of the things that we buy through large-scale manufacturing and commercial operations. In addition to making goods, industrial can also refer to mining, construction, and even transportation. The key factor is that these processes involve big machinery, computers that control that machinery, and specialized equipment, and they are large-scale operations.
Industry is a significant source of water contamination because industrial corporations cut corners regarding waste management. Industrial equipment needs to be cleaned, and if dirty water isn’t properly cleaned up or stored, it ends up in our rivers, streams, lakes, and eventually, our drinking water. Mines are also mismanaged and abandoned, which is a major source of water contamination.
Large-scale industrial operations can produce a wide variety of water contaminants. One of the most common types of contaminants is heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and chromium. These heavy metals come from contaminated water discharged, mostly during mining operations.
Dangers of Lead
Lead is particularly harmful to young children. It affects their cognitive development, leading to learning disabilities, reduced IQ, and behavioral problems. Lead can also cause hearing loss and developmental delays. An adult’s lead exposure can increase blood pressure and cause damage to kidneys and reproductive systems. Chronic exposure may even affect our nervous system!
Mercury
Mercury exposure has neurological effects because it damages our nervous system. This can create tremors, memory loss, and overall cognitive problems. Mercury has also been linked to kidney damage.
Arsenic
Arsenic in our drinking water can increase our cancer risks, specifically skin, bladder, and lung cancers. It also creates cardiovascular problems such as hypertension and heart attacks and can lead to cardiovascular disease. Arsenic also affects our brains and can cause neurological problems such as numbness and tingling in our toes and fingers.
Cadmium and Chromium 6
Cadmium has been linked to kidney damage and bone damage and increases our risk of lung cancer. Chromium six has been linked to lung cancer and gastrointestinal problems, including ulcers and bleeding.
As you can see, exposure to heavy metals in drinking water is a big problem! The EPA sets limits on the amount of heavy metals in drinking water, but those limits are routinely violated, especially in communities surrounding large-scale operations. There aren’t enough inspections, and penalties and fines are rare and don’t amount to much.
Another type of industrial contaminant is volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These organic chemicals evaporate into the air and can contaminate water. They include benzene and trichloroethylene, which are found in industrial solvents, fuels, and chemical manufacturing processes.
Benzene has been linked to leukemia and other blood cancers. It also affects our bone marrow and reproductive systems. Toluene creates memory and thinking problems. It also damages our kidneys and livers and creates developmental effects in unborn babies.
Trichloroethylene also increases our cancer risk, specifically non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It also damages our brain and liver and can give us headaches, dizziness, and other thinking and memory problems.
Industrial waste can also contain nitrates and nitrates, although these are most often associated with agricultural runoff.
Industrial operations can also produce cyanides, radioactive substances like radon and uranium, and chlorinated solvents used to clean machinery. All of these create health problems similar to those of previous contaminants. They increase our risk for various cancers and affect our brains, livers, and hearts.
The bottom line is that industrial contaminants are a massive risk to our health and often end up in our drinking water from cost-cutting, irresponsibility, and incompetence.
If industrial companies were genuinely committed to cleaning up their waste, we wouldn’t have these industrial pollution problems. We might even be able to take our children swimming in our local rivers and lakes. Unfortunately, most industrial corporations care more about paying dividends to stockholders than protecting the environment and keeping us safe. Please check your annual municipal water report to discover which industrial contaminants are in your drinking water.
Also, everyone should protect their health with multi-stage water filtration systems like the premium dual water filtration systems in our premium water ionizers.
