title: Using an environmental public health tracking biomonitoring study to validate safe water restoration efforts in Florida.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen when consumed over many years and is the type of arsenic that is associated with well water. Private wells in many central Florida counties have been found to contain levels of arsenic above 10 μg/L, which is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) established by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to test whether individuals living in homes with arsenic levels above the MCL who use bottled water or have a point of use (POU) filter on their main source of water in the house (eg, kitchen sink) are ingesting unsafe levels of arsenic through other unfiltered water sources in the home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study of residents with private wells above (case) and below (control) the MCL for arsenic in drinking water (10 μg/L) conducted between April and July 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents with private wells living in Hernando County, Florida, where nearly 400 unique wells of 1200 tested have been found to have elevated arsenic levels (targeted sampling).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants with elevated water arsenic levels were referred to the Florida Safe Water Restoration Program for assistance in obtaining bottled water vouchers and/or POU filters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Creatinine-corrected total urinary arsenic levels and information on water use and consumption behaviors, dietary intake, and other possible exposure sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total urinary arsenic levels were similar for cases using POU filters or bottled water when compared with controls (geometric means of 7.17 and 7.19 μg/L, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current practice used by the Florida Safe Water Restoration Program of supplying POU filters or bottled water to households with arsenic levels in private wells between 10 and 50 μg/L appears to be sufficient to protect residents from arsenic exposure through tap water.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee (Ms Jordan, Mr DuClos, and Dr Kintziger); and Florida Department of Health in Hernando County, Spring Hill (Mr Gray and Ms Bonometti).
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DuClos
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kintziger
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bonometti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*; D062066:Water Resources
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic