Abstract
Half of U.S. drinking water comes from aquifers, and very shallow ones (<20 feet to water table) are especially vulnerable to anthropogenic contamination. We present the case of Holliston, a Boston, Massachusetts suburb that draws its drinking water from very shallow aquifers, and where metals and solvents have been reported in groundwater. Community concerns focus on water discolored by naturally occurring manganese (Mn), despite reports stating regulatory aesthetic compliance. Epidemiologic studies suggest Mn is a potentially toxic element (PTE) for children exposed by the drinking-water pathway at levels near the regulatory aesthetic level. We designed an integrated, community-based project: five sites were profiled for contaminant releases; service areas for wells were modeled; and the capture zone for one vulnerable well was estimated. Manganese, mercury, and trichloroethylene are among 20 contaminants of interest. Findings show that past and/or current exposures to multiple contaminants in drinking water are plausible, satisfying the criteria for complete exposure pathways. This case questions the adequacy of aquifer protection and monitoring regulations, and highlights the need for integrated assessment of multiple contaminants, associated exposures and health risks. It posits that community-researcher partnerships are essential for understanding and solving complex problems.
Highlights
Safe drinking water is fundamental for public health, and while microbial contamination is a major concern globally, toxic chemical agents—both natural and anthropogenic—in water pose health risks
We examine the case of a typical U.S suburban community where very shallow aquifers (
Complex exposures to multiple contaminants in air, water and food were recently estimated to account for one-in-six deaths globally in 2015 [85]; Holliston illustrates this complexity on a local scale
Summary
Safe drinking water is fundamental for public health, and while microbial contamination is a major concern globally, toxic chemical agents—both natural and anthropogenic—in water pose health risks. There is epidemiologic evidence that all four of these chemicals are neurotoxic individually, in particular following excess exposure that occurs prenatally or during early life [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Complicating this further is the potential for synergism between chemicals; little is known about how exposure to chemical mixtures impacts health [11]. Of residents utilize drinking water supplied by very shallow aquifers; the area has been impacted by landfills, industry, and contamination events; the geology contains naturally elevated Mn that releases to groundwater; and community residents regularly raise concerns about discolored tap water. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 provides an overview of regulations related to drinking water and waste-site cleanup in Massachusetts; Section 3 details the study design and methods used for ongoing data collection and modeling; Section 4 describes results to date; Section 5 presents recommendations for scientific research, policy and regulation, and technology; and Section 6 summarizes conclusions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
