When Water Burns

In fact, her entire family tries to avoid any contact with the water. Her youngest son has scabs on his arms, legs and chest where the bathwater — polluted with lead, nickel and other heavy metals — caused painful rashes. Many of his brother’s teeth were capped to replace enamel that was eaten away.

This family does not live in a Mexico, or Ghana, or China. They live in West Virginia.

Neighbors apply special lotions after showering because their skin burns. Tests show that their tap water contains arsenic, barium, lead, manganese and other chemicals at concentrations federal regulators say could contribute to cancer and damage the kidneys and nervous system.

Via: Toxic Waters — Clean Water Laws Are Neglected, at a Cost in Suffering — Series — NYTimes.com.

This is a shocking piece on how clean water is a problem even places close to home, and how enforcement of existing laws has been beyond lax.