Arsenic linked to Type II Diabetes

An article was published today in the Americal Journal of Medicine that has linked low levels of arsenic to Type II Diabetes. At concentrations of 0.01 mg per Litre, this colourless, tasteless and odourless contaminant gets into the body where diabetes develops. This was discovered in urine tests - people with high arsenic levels detected were THREE TIMES more likely to have diabetes.

Arsenic is found mostly in western regions of North America, but can be found anywhere. Municipal water treatment plants are required by law to monitor and remove arsenic, but there is no such program to assist people drawing their drinking water from a private well. Thankfully, there are reverse osmosis systems that are certified to remove arsenic as well as a broad range of other contaminants.

This is yet another reason to ensure your well water is treated before consuming it. I had two seperate clients yesterday comment that they drink the water from their well just as it comes out of the ground. One client was talking about how their family has been on that land for a long time and it seemed fine. I had another one tell me they use it for cooking because of the salty flavour it makes nice pasta and vegetables!

When it comes to your family's health, well water is something to be taken seriously. Even if your family has been on the land for a long time, and for 3 or 4 generations have been drinking the water from that well - try to picture what has changed in the world! Around these farms and rural areas, crops have been treated with newer fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and all kinds of chemicals. Our cattle are injected with hormones to make our meat more tender and lean. All of this finds its way down into the ground and into the water table. If you draw your water from the ground - this HAS to concern you!

In many areas, land that used to be used for farms have been purchased and re-zoned for commercial, industrial and residential usages. Commercial and industrial processes can add toxic pollutants. New residential development adds septic systems as well as fertilizers and other chmicals to the water. Increasing levels of air pollution have affected the rain that falls and ends up in the wells.

It is so important to look at the big picture when it comes to your health. Just because your great grandfather drank from that well 75 years ago does not mean that the water is "just fine" now....

Arsenic is a well-researched problem. There is ample information on this element at the EPA, the World Health Organization and Health Canada. For a free copy of Health Canada's Arsenic in Drinking Water Guidelines, email: info@douglasenviro.ca with ARSENIC in the subject line. We can mail a hard copy if you prefer, just send us your name and address.