J8: Drinking Water Exposome: USGS-Community Partnership Studies

Greater Columbus Convention Center 

Room: A 122 

CM Credit Hours: 1 

The quality/sustainability of drinking water are growing challenges in the United States due to increasing water demands and contamination of drinking water resources. Key challenges include: a) a lack of access to quality drinking water and b) limited information on drinking water quality, especially for persons relying on private wells, small community water supplies, and bottled water. Comprehensive contaminant investigations are not commonly conducted at the point of consumption (tap water) for public supply, private wells, or bottled water. Therefore, an understanding of the impact of drinking water contaminants on human health is incomplete. Recent events and technological advances argue for the need to expand the scope of water contaminant analyses and monitor individual exposure effects. These recent events have included lead and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, chemical spills in drinking-water resources, and contamination of private wells with pharmaceuticals or geogenic substances(arsenic). These incidents have alarmed the public, shutdown municipal water systems, and prompted shifts in drinking-water consumption (e.g., increased bottled water use). This session will discuss the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) drinking water quality research with an emphasis on assessing human exposures and potential effects of contaminant mixtures including PFAS in tap water.

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Discuss the contaminant exposures associated with drinking water supplies.
• Assess contaminant exposures at the drinking water point of use.
• Describe disparities in water quality related to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
• Examine the limitations of contaminant-by-contaminant risk assessments.
• Identify the differences between regulatory standards and health benchmarks/advisories.
• Present the USGS Environmental Health Program's risk assessment approach.
• Summarize the USGS study on PFAS in public and private tap water. 

Intermediate

Polling

Q&A

Academia/Education

Healthcare/Pharma

Public Utilities

Also part of the Virtual Program

Available as part of AIHA CONNECT OnDemand

Chemical Hazards

Indoor Air Quality

Risk Assessment and Management