Pregnant women urged not to drink tap water
Date
January 23, 2014
Pregnant women in the Queensland town of Kingaroy are urged not to drink tap water because of elevated levels of chemicals known as trihalomethanes.
Women in the town became concerned after Kingaroy Hospital posted signs around its wards warning pregnant women not to drink tap water, according to the South Burnett Times.
The local council issued an alert later on Wednesday after routine testing at the Kingaroy water treatment plant detected elevated levels of trihalomethanes, commonly referred to as THMs.
The problem is the latest in a series of issues to mar Kingaroy’s water supply over the past four years.
THMs can form naturally when organic matter in water reacts with chlorine used to disinfect drinking supplies and can be absorbed by breathing, swallowing or through the skin.
The council’s infrastructure general manager, Russell Hood, said the water treatment process at the plant was being reviewed.
‘‘Further advice will be provided when the levels of THMs have been reduced below the guideline values,’’ Mr Hood said.
‘‘Pregnant women who have concerns or questions regarding their health should contact their local doctor.’’
Scientific studies have yet to show conclusive evidence that THMs are harmful to humans, but South Burnett Regional Council and Queensland Health said pregnant women were asked not to drink town water as a precaution.
Some international studies have shown THMs could cause some forms of cancer in the liver, kidneys, colon, bladder, rectum and reproductive areas of the body.
The 2004 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines recommends that THM levels in drinking water should not exceed 0.25mg/L.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pregnant-women-urged-not-to-drink-tap-water-20140123-31b3u.html#ixzz2rCnKgcwB