When Arsenic is Safer in Your Cup of Tea Than in Your Local Water Treatment Plant

Authors

Sue E. Umshler, University of New Mexico

Publication Date

3-13-1999

Comments

103 p. ; An outstanding student paper selected as a Honors Paper.

Abstract

The arsenic drinking water standard has been an issue for over fifty years and a hot debate topic since 1977. The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 require the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate a proposed regulation by January 1, 2000 and a final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation by January 2, 2001. This paper examines the health benefit and cost issues for various Maximum Contaminant Levels of arsenic exposure and examines some of the social and environmental consequences of setting the standard too low. The author proposes three alternatives for the proposed rule and concludes that the present standard of 50 ppb should not be lowered.

Publisher

University of New Mexico School of Law

Document Type

Student Paper

Recommended Citation

Umshler, Sue E.. "When Arsenic is Safer in Your Cup of Tea Than in Your Local Water Treatment Plant." (1999). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/law_studentscholarship/69