There are a lot of resources for Arsenic out there on the World Wide Web. Here are some that we’ve found to be useful within the context of current science.
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry’s Toxic Substances Portal is a website that provides information on arsenic for community members, emergency responders, and toxicological and health professionals on many toxic substances, including arsenic. These resources vary in length and technical detail, so check out the different links to find the information you’re looking for.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC’s National Biomonitoring Program fact sheet on arsenic.
Safe Water for Community Health (Safe WATCH)
The CDC supports drinking water programs at health departments to address problems with private drinking water systems in their communities. Check out the tools, promotional materials and success stories.
Columbia Superfund Research Program
New Jersey Arsenic Awareness Initiative
This website was created by the Columbia Superfund Research Program to raise awareness about the issue of arsenic in private wells in New Jersey, as well as to spur at-risk residents to action to test and treat their water, if necessary. The site contains videos about arsenic’s health effects, testing water for arsenic, and installing an arsenic treatment system. There are also pages on testing, treatment, and FAQs about arsenic in well water. Even if you aren’t from New Jersey, the information on this site is relevant to private well owners everywhere!
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, has tested rice and rice products for arsenic and published their findings independently of the U.S. FDA testing of arsenic in food. Consumer Reports offers recommendations and a point system to measure dietary arsenic exposure that provides consumers with an upper limit of arsenic exposure through rice and rice products.
Arsenic and Lead in Fruit Juices
Information and test results from Consumer Reports on arsenic, lead and other metals in fruit juices.
Dartmouth Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center
An interactive website that helps people understand the harmful effects of arsenic in common foods, and provides simple measures they can take to lower their arsenic exposure. The website is designed to make it easily accessible to all users; it includes main sections on how arsenic gets into food, tips to reduce arsenic exposure, effects of arsenic, and additional research.
Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program
NH Arsenic MCL Reduction: for private well users
This fact sheet provides information on drinking water testing and treatment for private well users in New Hampshire and explains the state’s reduction of the arsenic Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for public water systems from 10 to 5 parts per billion.
Well Water Community Action Toolkit
This toolkit was designed to help communities increase private well water testing and treatment for groundwater contaminants such as arsenic. The toolkit includes information on private wells in New Hampshire, a step-by-step guide for planning community activities, useful resources, communication materials, and project planning worksheets. While the Well Water Community Action Toolkit was made specifically for communities in New Hampshire, the information is relevant to communities across the country.
In Small Doses: Arsenic – 10 Minute Video
In Small Doses: Arsenic is a ten minute movie about the risks associated with exposure to potentially harmful amounts of arsenic in private well water. Take the time to learn how naturally occurring arsenic moves into groundwater, how it is detected, what can be done to remove it, and the current science surrounding the question of, “How much is too much?”
Food and Drug Administration
Arsenic in Food and Dietary Supplements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website provides information on arsenic in specific products such as rice, fruit juice and bottled water, as well as Q&A pages and links to technical risk assessment and policy documents.
Healthy Babies Bright Futures
Report and results of testing on arsenic in nine brands of infant rice cereal, compared to arsenic levels in cereals made from other grains.
National Library of Medicine
Tox Town, a product of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, provides consumer-level information on everyday locations and situations where you might be exposed to toxic chemicals including arsenic. This site will help you better understand risks of exposure, potential health effects, and how to protect yourself. It includes resources for students and teachers in grades 6–8 to learn about the environment and health.
National Research Council
2013 Interim Report on Inorganic Arsenic
The National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine produced this interim report on “Critical Aspects of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic.”
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
The Be Well Informed Guide from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will help you understand your water test results and, if your well water has commonly found pollutants in it, provide information about health concerns and water treatment choices. While many private wells provide safe drinking water, certain pollutants like arsenic can be present in groundwater at levels that affect your health. Enter your test results from your laboratory report and you will receive an evaluation of your well water quality and, if advisable, water treatment options. While this guide is made by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, it’s a useful tool for private well owners around the country.
University of Arizona Superfund Research Program
Gardenroots Citizen Science Project
Gardenroots is a citizen science program designed to reduce exposure to arsenic through soils and homegrown vegetables in communities near resource extraction and hazardous waste sites. This project and website from the University of Arizona Superfund Research Program provides tips for reducing arsenic absorption by vegetables, reducing incidental soil ingestion and inhalation for gardeners, and safe consumption of homegrown vegetables to reduce dietary arsenic and lead ingestion. While this website focuses on communities in Arizona, the resources are relevant to any community where arsenic levels in rocks and soil are high due to natural sources or human activities.
University of North Carolina Superfund Research Program
The University of North Carolina Superfund Research Program developed an online resource for well owners interested in more information about understanding well testing results, the distribution of groundwater contaminants such as arsenic in North Carolina counties, and the impact of groundwater on human health. The site provides resources for testing your well water, understanding your results, and navigating a sample well testing results form.
United States Geological Survey
New England Water Science Center
National Water Quality Assessment
Trace Elements
Arsenic in Groundwater Resources
The United States Geological Survey shares featured publications examining arsenic in groundwater on a national and a regional scale. If you have a private well, look for your region to learn more about whether the geology of your area is likely to result in high arsenic in well water.
United States House of Representatives
U.S. House Report on Metals in Baby Food
The U.S. House of Representatives released a report in February 2021 providing information on arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in baby food.
WellOwner.org
Arsenic in Private Wells
Well Owner Resources
WellOwner.org is a website produced by the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), a non-profit that provides resources on private well issues and maintenance. The Q&As and links on this website provide great general information on arsenic in private wells and arsenic treatment options. The NGWA also provides a Private Well Owner Hotline (855-420-9355) where you can have a conversation about water quality in general and discuss arsenic in drinking water.
Water Systems Council
Well Water Testing by State or Province
Water Well Help
The Water Systems Council provides state information to learn about water testing resources where you live and information on maintaining your well.