Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH)
Benzo(a)pyrene is discharged in wastewater by industries such as smelters and is leached into the environment from creosote soaked lumber. Safe Home offers a few kits that provide drinking water testing for benzo(a)pyrene in city water and well water supplies.
Parameter Type: Drinking Water Testing for Volatiles
Parameter Name:Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH)
What it is and Where it Comes From:
Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and the result of incomplete combustion of organic matter at temperatures between 300 °C (572 °F) and 600 °C (1,112 °F). The ubiquitous compound can be found in coal tar, tobacco smoke and many foods, especially grilled meats. The substance with the formula C20H12 is one of the benzopyrenes, formed by a benzene ring fused to pyrene. Its diol epoxide metabolites (more commonly known as BPDE) react and bind to DNA, resulting in mutations and eventually cancer. Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) is discharged in wastewater by industries such as smelters, particularly iron and steel mills and aluminum smelters. Drinking water testing gives you several benefits like peace of mind, identifying contaminants in your water, and insight into health concerns. Safe Home offers Laboratory drinking water testing kits for benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH), allowing you to collect your water sample and ship it directly to our EPA-Certified Laboratory. This platform of drinking water testing for benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) will give you an accurate level based on the lowest level of a parameter our instruments can detect (Method Detection Level). Safe Home drinking water testing for semi-volatiles can be used for city and well water supplies. Drinking water testing should be done any time you notice a significant change in your water quality.
Health Effects:
Prenatal exposure of Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) in rats is known to affect learning and memory in rodent models. Pregnant rats eating Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) were shown to negatively affect the brain function in the late life of their offspring. Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) influences the number of white blood cells, inhibiting some of them from differentiating into macrophages, the body’s first line of defense to fight infections. However, it has been more difficult to link cancers to specific Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) sources, especially in humans, and difficult to quantify risks posed by various methods of exposure (inhalation or ingestion).
Solutions to Contaminant Levels:
After drinking water testing, what are my treatment options? Benzo(a)pyrene-(PAH) can be removed from drinking water using granular activated carbon filtration system. A filter with granular activated carbon (GAC) is a proven option to remove certain chemicals, particularly organic chemicals, from water. Activated carbon is a porous material that removes organic compounds from liquids and gases by a process known as “adsorption.” In adsorption, organic molecules contained in a liquid or gas are attracted and bound to the surface of the pores of the activated carbon as the liquid or gas is passed through. Adsorption occurs on the internal surface of activated carbon, termed the adsorbent. During adsorption, liquids or gases pass through the highly porous structure of the activated carbon. The compound(s) to be removed, termed the adsorbate(s), diffuses to the surface of the adsorbent, and is retained because of attractive forces. The primary raw material used in the production of our activated carbons is bituminous coal that is crushed, sized, and processed in low temperature bakers followed by high-temperature activation furnaces. Activation develops the pore structure of the carbon. Through adjustments in the activation process, differentiated pores for a particular purification application are developed. It is recommended to test your drinking water regularly. Who do I need to contact to find out more information about water quality in my area? Every community water supplier must provide an annual report to its customers, known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The report provides information on your local drinking water quality, including the water’s source, contaminants found in the water, and how consumers can get involved in protecting drinking water. How often does the local public water system preform drinking water testing? Frequency of drinking water testing depends on the number of people served, the type of water source, and types of contaminants. Certain contaminants are tested more frequently than others, as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act. You can find out about levels of regulated contaminants in your treated water for the previous calendar year in your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
