Organic chemicals are the chemical compounds found in humans, living organisms, plants, other animals, and the environment all around us. These compounds are essential to life and if we just left everything alone, we wouldn’t need to think too much about them. Alas, agriculture, medicine, food production, and industrial manufacturing have all found a way to use organic chemicals in their products, and now we’ve got a BIG problem!
Some organic chemicals are fine. When we’re exposed to them, they aren’t a health risk. However, other organic compounds can have adverse health effects and have even been linked to leukemia and other cancers! It’s these unsafe organic chemicals that we all should be thinking about when we drink a glass of water.
Below is a list of safe organic chemicals. These chemicals won’t harm us, and a couple of them, like carbohydrates and amino acids, are actually essential to our health. When industry and agriculture use these organic chemicals listed below, it’s not a problem for our drinking water.
Amino acids: These organic compounds are the building blocks of proteins and are found in all living organisms.
Carbohydrates: These organic compounds are found in plants and provide energy for animals and humans.
Lipids: These organic compounds are found in all living cells and are essential for cell structure and function.
Terpenes: These organic compounds are found in plants and are responsible for their distinctive odors and flavors. They are also used in many commercial products, including perfumes and essential oils.
Alkaloids: These organic compounds are found in plants and have a variety of pharmacological effects. Examples include caffeine, nicotine, and morphine.
Phenols: These organic compounds are found in plants and have antiseptic and antioxidant properties. They are also used in many commercial products, including cosmetics and cleaning products.
Organic acids: These organic compounds are found in many foods and are responsible for their sour taste. Examples include citric acid and acetic acid.
Hydrocarbons: These organic compounds are found in petroleum and natural gas and are used as fuels and feedstocks in the chemical industry.
Unfortunately, the organic chemicals listed below are harmful to human health and destructive to the environment. They include certain pesticides, industrial solvents, and other pollutants. Pay close attention to this list because if any of these are in your drinking water, you have to take immediate action!
Benzene: This colorless liquid is a carcinogen that can cause leukemia and other cancers.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): These chemicals were widely used in electrical equipment and other industrial applications until they were banned in the 1970s. They are persistent in the environment and can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, developmental delays, and immune system damage.
Dioxins: These highly toxic compounds are byproducts of industrial processes such as waste incineration and paper production. They can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, and immune system damage.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): These chemicals are widely used in industrial and consumer products, including nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, and stain-resistant fabrics. They are persistent in the environment and can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental delays.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): These chemicals are released into the air as gases from a variety of sources, including paints, cleaning products, and gasoline. They can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory irritation, headaches, and dizziness.
Pesticides: These chemicals are used to control pests in agriculture and other settings. Some pesticides are known to be carcinogenic, while others can cause reproductive and developmental problems or harm the nervous system.
Harmful organic chemicals get into our water from industrial runoff, leaking storage tanks, petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, the use of solvents, landfills, improper disposal, and even byproducts of water treatment! In other words, they find their way into our drinking water from many sources, and that’s why they are abundant across the US.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), toxic organic chemicals are widespread and prevalent in US drinking water. Hundreds of different contaminants have been detected in public water systems all across the US.
Between 2021 and 2023, the EWG analyzed 50,000 water systems across the US and found 324 toxic organic chemicals, including PFAS (forever chemicals), disinfection byproducts (DBPs), volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and pesticides and herbicides.
DPBs form during water treatment processes, such as chlorination. The VOCs come from industrial discharge and chemical production. Pesticides and herbicides are used in agriculture.
If you want to know which toxic organic chemicals are in your drinking water, you can visit the EWG website and enter your zip code.
The bottom line is these toxic organic chemicals have found their way into our water systems and your glass of water. Considering that many of them have been linked to thyroid disease, leukemia, developmental delays, and more, removing these chemicals before we drink our water should be our top priority.
