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Arsenic Consumption and Health Risk Perceptions in a Rural Western U.S. Area

Author

Listed:
  • Benson, Marnee
  • Walker, Mark
  • Shaw, W. Douglass

Abstract

Churchill County, Nevada had approximately 23,000 residents, with an estimated 13,500 who relied on private wells for water supply in 2002. This study examined exposure to arsenic in water supplies among residents with private domestic wells and factors related to householder choice to consume tap water. It compared opinions and concerns about water quality with consumption habits and observed concentrations from tap water samples. The results from 351 households indicated that a majority (75%) of respondents consumed tap water and that a minority (38%) applied treatment. Approximately 66% of those who consumed tap water were exposed to concentrations of arsenic that exceeded 10 ppb. Water consumption was related to application of treatment. Among 98 respondents who were not at all concerned about the health effects of aqueous arsenic, 59 (60%) reported consuming tap water with concentrations of arsenic exceeding 10 ppb. Conversely, among 86 respondents who were highly concerned about arsenic, 33 (37%) consumed tap water with concentrations of arsenic exceeding 10 ppb. Results from a national sampling effort showed that 620/5304 (11.7%) of private wells sampled had arsenic concentrations above 10 ppb. The paradox of awareness of arsenic in water supplies coupled with consumption of aqueous arsenic in concentrations of >10 ppb may be common in other parts of the nation. Enhanced educational efforts, especially related to tap water sampling and explanations of efficacy of available treatment, may be a useful means of reducing exposure through private water supplies.

Suggested Citation

  • Benson, Marnee & Walker, Mark & Shaw, W. Douglass, 2006. "Arsenic Consumption and Health Risk Perceptions in a Rural Western U.S. Area," Pre-Prints 23963, Texas A&M University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:tamupp:23963
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.23963
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. John T. Doyle & Larry Kindness & James Realbird & Margaret J. Eggers & Anne K. Camper, 2018. "Challenges and Opportunities for Tribal Waters: Addressing Disparities in Safe Public Drinking Water on the Crow Reservation in Montana, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Tiffany VanDerwerker & Lin Zhang & Erin Ling & Brian Benham & Madeline Schreiber, 2018. "Evaluating Geologic Sources of Arsenic in Well Water in Virginia (USA)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Margaret J. Eggers & John T. Doyle & Myra J. Lefthand & Sara L. Young & Anita L. Moore-Nall & Larry Kindness & Roberta Other Medicine & Timothy E. Ford & Eric Dietrich & Albert E. Parker & Joseph H. H, 2018. "Community Engaged Cumulative Risk Assessment of Exposure to Inorganic Well Water Contaminants, Crow Reservation, Montana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-34, January.
    4. Konishi, Yoshifumi & Coggins, Jay S., 2008. "Environmental risk and welfare valuation under imperfect information," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 150-169, May.
    5. Cho, Yongsung & Konishi, Yoshifumi & Easter, K. William, 2007. "Can Rural Communities Comply with the New Arsenic Standard for Drinking Water?," Staff Papers 7353, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    6. Konishi, Yoshifumi & Adachi, Kenji, 2011. "A framework for estimating willingness-to-pay to avoid endogenous environmental risks," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 130-154, January.

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