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Contaminants Removed by Reverse Osmosis

The following inorganic contaminants, if present in your drinking water in normally found concentrations, will be removed or reduced to safe levels by filtration with reverse osmosis membranes, such as found in our reverse osmosis systems.

INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Contaminant MCL (mg/L) Source/Industrial Occurrence Health Effects Treatment
Antimony 0.005 Coal and ore mining, petroleum refining, paint and ink formulation, textile mills, explosives mfg., foundries timber product processing, iron and steel mfg. as a hardening alloy. Carcinogen. Irritation to eyes and skin tissue. Reverse osmosis, coagulation and filtration, distillation.
Arsenic *0.05

*USEPA to consider MCL between 0.002 to 0.02 mg/L		 Defoliants, soil sterilants, wood treatment compounds, used in textile mills, paint and ink formulation, petroleum refining, porcelain enameling, pharmaceutical manufacturing, ore mining and dressing, foundries and metals manufacturing. Malignant tumors or skin and lungs. Affects nervous system. Reverse osmosis, activated alumina, ion exchange, lime softening, coagulation with filtration distillation.
Asbestos 7 MF/L Natural mineral deposits, insulation, fireproofing materials and cement pipe. Probable cause of cancer. Reverse osmosis, filtration, distillation.
Barium 2.0 Natural forming ore as barite and witherite in GA, MO, AR, KY, CA, NV, Canada and Mexico. Affects nervous and circulatory systems. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, lime softening, distillation.
Berrylium 0.004 Natural ore in CO, ME, NH, SD, Canada. Nonferrous metals manufacturing as a copper alloy, iron and steel manufacturing, ore and coal mining, textile mills petroleum refining, paint and ink formulation. Carcinogen. Effects skin and lung tissues. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, activated alumina, coagulation and filtration, lime softening, distillation.
Cadmium 0.005 Natural mineral deposits. Used in leather and tanning and iron and steel manufacturing, coal mining, textile mills, gum and wood chemicals, pharamacuetical manufacturing, petroleum refining, rubber processing and foundries. Kidney disorders, bronchitus, anemia. Reverse osmosis, Ion exchange, coagulation with filtration, lime softening, distillation, corrosion control.
Chromium
(total)		 0.1 Natural mineral deposits. Used in leather and tanning and iron and steel manufacturing, coal mining, textile mills, gum and wood chemicals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, petroleum refining, rubber processing and foundries Liver and kidney disorders. Affects skin and digestive system. Reverse osmosis, Coagulation with filtration, ion exchange, lime softening, distillation.
Copper 1.3 (action level) Formation occurs during corrosion of interior household and building pipes. Stomach and intestinal distress. Wilson's Disease. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, distillation.
Cyanide 0.2 Leather tanning and finishing, iron and steel manufacturing, paint and ink formulation, extermination materials, explosives manufacturing. Nervous system, endocrine system. Reverse osmosis, chlorination, ion exchange.
Fluoride 4.0 Natural forming material deposits, additive to public supply as fluorsilicic acid, sodium silicofluoride or sodium fluoride at a concentration of 1.0 mg/L. Fluorosis or mottling, a brown discoloration of the teeth. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, distillation, activated alumina.
Lead 0.015 (action level) Solder and other plumbing products, batteries, gasoline as tetraethyl lead. Used in explosives manufacturing, textile mills, petroleum refining, paint and ink formation, rubber processing, porcelain enameling and foundries. Affects nervous and reproductive systems and kidneys. Causes hypertension. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, coagulation with filtration, distillation, corrosion control, carbon.
Mercury 0.002 Fungicides, bactericides in antifouling paints and mildew-proofing preparations. Also found in thermometers and barometers. Used in coal mining, textile mills, timber product processing, petroleum refining, rubber processing, paint and ink formulation. Affects nervous system and kidneys. Reverse osmosis, granular activated carbon, lime softening, coagulation with filtration and with powdered activated carbon, distillation.
Nickel 0.1 Natural ore in Ontario, Canada, iron and steel manufacturing as low alloy steel, nonferrous manufacturing as copper and brass. Alkaline storage batteries, electroplating, foundries, timber product processing, petroleum refining. Carcinogen, dermatitis. Affects gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Reverse osmosis, lime softening, ion exchange, distillation.
Nitrate (as N) 10 Fertilization, sewage. Natural forming mineral deposits, feed-lot runoff. Methemo-globinemia ("Blue Baby" Syndrome) Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, distillation
Nitrite (as N) 1.0 Fertilization, sewage. Natural forming mineral deposits, feed-lot runoff. Methemo-globinemia ("Blue Baby" Syndrome) Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, distillation
Selenium 0.05 Natural mineral deposits. Commonly found as a trace element in animal feeds. Used in textile mills, timber processing, porcelain enameling, pharmaceutical manufacturing and foundries. Affects nervous system. Causes irriation to the mucous Reverse osmosis, distillation, lime softening, coagulation with filtration, activated alumina.
Sodium none
(20 mg/L recommended level)		 Geological, road salting. Possible increased blood pressure in suseptible individuals. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, distillation.
Thallium 0.002 Pesticides, nonferrous metals as an alloy, photo electric applications, semi conductor processing, petroleum refining, paint and ink formulation. Skin irritation. Reverse osmosis, activated alumina, ion exchange, distillation.

Data taken from Spectrum Labs Contaminant Chart which correlates with known bodies of information from other authorities in the water treatment industry such as the Water Quality Association (WQA).