It is highly recommended for people to test for pesticides in their drinking water even if they live deep in urbanized areas and far away from farmland. That is because pesticides can seep into the soil and travel to other areas.
Pesticides can cause various health problems when ingested along with drinking water. Among the illnesses that pesticides cause when absorbed by the body are:
• Allergic skin reactions such as rashes, acne, blisters and swelling
• Swelling of the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose
• Shortness or rapidity of breathing due to injuries to the lungs
• Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and other gastrointestinal discomforts
• Muscular twitching, lethargy, excessive fatigue and headaches from damage to the nerves
You can only know if your drinking water is contaminated by pesticides if you test it. The testing can be done at home using a water testing kit. Samples can also be sent to a state-accredited laboratory.
10 Common Pesticides Tested in Drinking Water
Below is a list of the ten pesticides that are most prevalent in the water we use for drinking. Some of these pesticides have been banned in the United States, they can still emerge in drinking water tests because pesticides can take as much as 50 years to contaminate water.
Chlordane. Prior to its regulation, chlordane was primarily used as a pesticide for corn, citrus fruits, nuts, vegetables, and ornamental garden plants. Nowadays, chlordane is only allowable for use to kill fire ants on power transformers.
DDT. DDT, which is short for Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane, was popular during the Second World War as an insecticide, often used against mosquitoes causing malaria. After the war, it became a popular pesticide. It was later on discovered to be toxic and was thus banned.
Dieldrin. Dieldrin was once manufactured as an alternative to DDT. While it is not toxic, it is considered to be an organic pollutant and is linked to diseases like Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer. It was banned.
Endosulfan. Endosulfan is a highly toxic pesticide that is still being used in countries like Australia, India and New Zealand. Its use mainly lies in wood preservation and control of pests destroying ornamental plants and agricultural crops.
Endrin. Endrin is an insecticide used to inhibit grasshoppers, voles, mice and other pests from ravaging cotton, cereals, rice and other crops. It was banned in 1980.
Heptachlor. Heptachlor was once considered as a non-agricultural pesticide, although its use is now limited to making underground cables and power transformers fire ant-proof.
Lindane. Although regulated, Lindane has seen use for killing wood-eating beetles and for treating soil in gardens. Lindane is also a component for treatments in killing fleas and lice on pets.
Mirex. Mirex is mainly used to control ants and to make items such as plastic, paper, rubber and electronics resistant to fire.
Toxaphene. Toxaphene is still in use to manage pests in cotton fields and vegetable farms, as well as on poultry and livestock. Its use is highly regulated, however.
Trifluralin. Currently one of the most common chemicals still in use in farms today, trifluralin is mainly an herbicide used to kill weeds and other unwanted plants.
If you think your water supply is compromised, go for a drinking water test. Contact your local authorities for help if your drinking water is found to be contaminated by pesticides.