(Asheville, North Carolina)--The Environmental Quality Institute ("EQI") at the University of North Carolina at Asheville announces the broadening of a major research initiative to assess arsenic levels in groundwater supplies across the country. EQI is asking U.S. residents to submit their water for testing during this study, which will continue for an extended period, though results will be announced as they accumulate. Widely recognized as one of the leading U.S. drinking water research centers, the EQI will evaluate water from thousands of households on public, private, community and individual well water systems to determine risks on a geographic basis and to determine the true prevalence of arsenic contamination in the United States' well water supply systems.

Unlike lead contamination of drinking water, which usually comes from old pipes and fixtures, arsenic contamination occurs naturally in ground water in some areas (rather than surface water, such as streams as reservoirs) pumped from deep underground rock, gravel or sandy soils. Recent studies have confirmed that arsenic is a far more powerful human carcinogen than previously thought.

EPA's new 10 parts per billion ("ppb") will finally be implemented after the massive outpouring of citizen outrage at the Bush Administration's delays, but drinking water with that level of arsenic still gives a more than 500 cases-per-million lifetime cancer risk. Environmental and health groups advocated for reducing the enforceable arsenic limit to 5 or even 2 ppb. Standards for other known or suspected carcinogens are set at one to 10 cases-per-million.

Hope Taylor, director of Clean Water for North Carolina, points out, "knowledge about the arsenic concentration in your well water is really the best protection. We need to 'read the label' on our drinking water to protect our kids from long term exposure!" Clean Water for NC is helping to fund the national research study at EQI.

While generally available analytical methods can only detect arsenic at levels down to 2 ppb, EQI's instrumentation and methods (EPA-approved) will enable arsenic levels to be quantified down to about 0.3 ppb. This more precise measurement will allow EQI to better assess the the risk for each household as well as the overall risk to people who depend on groundwater in a particular area.

The EQI study will provide researchers with critically-needed information on the geographic areas, well depths, and well ages at most risk. It will also provide American families with access to tests to distinguish even very low arsenic levels that have medical significance to children and adults. Families, armed with this important information, will be able to remove arsenic at the tap, either through reverse osmosis filtration, distillation or anion-exchange filters.

"The ramifications of the study are enormous, given that over 40% of Americans are supplied by either public or private groundwater sources," said Dr. Steven Patch, Research Director for the EQI National Well Water Study. "We need participation from as many households as possible so that our data accurately reflects the risks of this very dangerous carcinogen."

To participate in the EQI arsenic study and receive low-cost, ultra-sensitive arsenic testing, volunteers can send a check for $20.00 payable to CWLTI/EQI, UNC-Asheville, CPO 2331, Asheville, NC 28804. Participants will then receive laboratory-cleaned sample bottles with instructions for taking and returning samples. EQI will send participants the confidential results for their water, along with an explanation of ways to remove arsenic if needed.