• The EPA is recommending the lowering of the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water be lowered from the current 50ppb down to only 5ppb, a 10-fold reduction.

• Arsenic poisoning has the ability to cause many forms of cancer and may have adverse effects on gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hormonal, pulmonary, hematological, neurological, immunological, and reproductive/developmental functions.

• The chemicals predominantly used to fluoridate municipal water supplies contain enough arsenic to push levels above the proposed reduced MCL, according to tests performed by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSFI).

• These chemicals would have to be either be cleaned of their arsenic content before use or scrapped completely if the MCL is brought down to 5ppb.

• This reduction in contaminants is part of the "Safe Drinking Water Act", passed by Congress.

• An EPA representative formally protested to the senate panel that a recent military appropriations bill was passed, which contained a rider limiting the EPA's institution of the proposed MCLs for arsenic and also for radon.

• J. William Hirzy, Ph.D. testified in Congress last week as a representative of the union which represents most of the scientists and other professional employees at the EPA's headquarters. He spoke about many of the published scientific studies showing the dangers of fluoridation, including such serious problems as kidney damage and brain damage.

• A representative of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) testified at the same hearing that the current MCL for arsenic of 50ppb was established back in 1942 and that talk of lowering it has been going on since the 1970's.

• Opponents claim the 5ppb limit is too difficult (and costly) to comply with and are pushing for a higher limit of 20ppb.

Information obtained from Citizens for Health