Editorial: Study of arsenic’s effects long overdue

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 8:48 a.m.

It is encouraging that the Environmental Protection Agency will assess whether long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water could affect the health of Fallon residents. The concentration of arsenic in the Fallon water supply is about 100 parts per billion. The federal standard, meanwhile, is 10 parts per billion.

Fallon is the Northern Nevada town that has had 15 children diagnosed with leukemia since 1997 (two have died), an extraordinarily high rate that the National Centers for Disease Control is investigating. Most medical experts don't believe cancer is linked to arsenic, but it is important that testing be performed anyway, whether it's for cancer or any other medical problem that may be connected to arsenic.

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