ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the issue of chemical contamination of drinking water sources and, to the degree possible, the implications of that contamination to human health. Until quite recently, "pure" drinking water was judged by the absence of mud, taste, odor, color, fecal coliforms, total dissolved solids and a few other factors. A number of governments and international bodies have recommended maximum levels for these inorganics in drinking water. The radionuclides which occur as contaminants of drinking water which are of greatest concern for human health are radium-226 and -228, uranium and radon. The greatest public concern is for the potential of chemical contaminants in drinking water to cause cancer; this concern also is reflected in the activities of governments. A number of short–term tests for mutagencity or mammalian cell transformation have been used to detect mutagens and putative carcinogens in drinking water supplies.
