STANDARD
FOR
ARSENIC LIMITS IN DRINKING WATER

1. SCOPE

1.1 To specify the maximum parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in drinking water required to insure people's health and the methods of measurement.

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

2.1 "Arsenic in Drinking Water", Fact Sheet No. 210, May 2001, World Health Organization (WHO)

2.2 VOSI "Public Health" Standard V50.4, "World Health Organization (WHO) Member Nation’s Participation in Voices of Safety (VOSI) "Public Health" & "Public Safety" Standards Development"

2.3 VOSI RR11-V60.1, " Research Report for Arsenic Limits in Drinking Water"

3. TERMINOLOGY

3.1 Arsenic – the arsenic normally found in drinking water is inorganic, which is more harmful than the organic arsenic abundant in seafood.

3.2 WHO – World Health Organization, consisting of 192 member nations, which includes the U.S.

4. SIGNIFICANCE & USE

4.1 The U.S. , being a WHO member nation, should meet the 10 ppb maximum for arsenic in drinking water as specified in Reference 2.1

4.2 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Christine Whitman’s statement "that arsenic problem needs further study" has been met by Reference 2.

4.3 The EPA, using the same powers by which it revised the previous arsenic limits in drinking water, from 10 to 50 ppb, should restore and enforce current arsenic limits of 10 ppb.

4.4 The Interagency Committee on Standards Policy (ICSP) member at the EPA should enforce the National Technology Transfer & Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), and reference this standard in their regulations for arsenic in drinking water.

5. KEYWORDS

5.1 Arsenic, Environmental Issues, Drinking Water, NTTAA, ICSP, EPA

This Standard is under the jurisdiction of the Voices of Safety International (VOSI) "Environmental Issues" Committee. Copies area available from VOSI, 264 Park Ave., North Caldwell, NJ 07006, Ph (973) 228-2258, Fax (973) 228-0276, e-mail: dmeserlian@voicesofsafety.com

Updated: 4/16/2002