Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water

Re “EPA Revokes New Arsenic Standards for Drinking Water,” March 21: The new EPA standard for arsenic in drinking water of 10 parts per billion (ppb) was a solution in search of a problem that, even if proven, is too marginal to justify its exorbitant expense.

The National Academy of Sciences 1999 report stated that epidemiological studies of arsenic and cancer all involve levels of at least several hundred ppb, and no study exists that shows arsenic at the old EPA standard of 50 ppb causes cancer or any other disease. The NAS recommendation to lower the 50 ppb level (to no specific new level) was based on extrapolation and other factors of uncertain validity.

Assuming there is a problem, the benefits of the 10 ppb standard do not justify the costs. The EPA’s analysis supporting adoption of the 10 ppb standard concluded that annually it would prevent an average of 25 fatal and 21 nonfatal cancers, valued at $140 to $180 million, and cost $206 million. The American Water Works Assn. Research Foundation estimates costs of $4.5 billion for initial investment plus $585 million annually for compliance. Many more lives could be saved by spending these huge sums elsewhere.

LEONARD E. MEADS

Los Angeles

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I suggest that the environmental and public health organizations erect signs at all venues of entry into the U.S. that say “Warning: There may be dangerously high levels of arsenic in some drinking water.” This would then pit the tourist industry against the mining industry, and this problem could be resolved in the present free-market version--whoever contributes the most money to the most congressmen and senators and the party in power wins. It certainly is not going to be resolved during the present administration by scientific data and health considerations.

KURT E. SHULER

Rancho Santa Fe