Granite State Analytical Services 
May 2019 Newsletter 


May 5-11 we celebrate Drinking Water Week throughout the United States. It is a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in our daily lives.  It is also a great time to educate children in a fun way about their water supply, the importance of clean water, and ways they can help maintain water quality throughout their community.
Radon Air Canister Update
 
The radon in air canisters from our manufacturer have changed slightly. The expiration sticker on the top of the device has been removed. The expiration date is now part of the device identification label on the side of the device.
 
As pictured: the top line is the device number and the bottom line is the expiration date of February 2022. 
 
Reminder:  DO NOT  attempt to remove the sticker or tamper with it in any way. Watch for these new canisters, they will be in circulation soon.
Iron & Manganese: The Effects on Reverse Osmosis Systems

Arsenic and uranium are two very common analytes we see in well water. To treat for arsenic & uranium, it is recommended to have a treatment company install a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. However, most treatment companies will ask for a full water test before even visiting your home.

RO systems use small micron filters that can be clogged by turbid water, iron, manganese and chlorination. Iron, especially, creates blockages in pipes itself so it's extremely important for the company to know what the iron levels are. 

If you have iron or manganese and also have arsenic or  uranium, you would have to install a water softener system. This system is a ion-exchange where ions like iron and manganese are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions. After that, then the RO system can be installed using the "softened" water. 
Jade Bergs

Icebergs are usually white, but recently scientists have been investing the phenomenon of green icebergs. These "Jade Bergs" have been spotted around Antarctica for many years. In 2016, scientists did a study on the ice in the Amery Ice shelf of Antarctica. 

Most icebergs  appear  bluish - white, the combination of the blue of pure ice, and the white of snow. Because glacial ice typically comes from snowfall and contains  numerous bubbles that scatter light the white color is prominent.  The Jade Bergs have been found to contain s eawater that freezes to the base of some ice shelves, forming marine ice.  When an iceberg capsizes  the marine ice emerges and becomes visible.  This ice which incorporates organic and inorganic particles from the water displays the unique green color.

The decades old green ice samples taken from the Amery Ice Shelf showed levels of iron oxides. The red and yellow particles from the seawater, in combination with the blue of the ice, can shift the color to green. "If these particles, possibly picked up from rocks crushed by the weight and friction of glaciers flowing toward the ocean, get incorporated into ice forming underwater, the result would be a vibrant green" (Warren 2019).   
PFAS in New Hampshire

PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals that can be found in many products we use every day, are becoming a growing concern in the Granite State because of the potential for human health hazards. They can be found in non-stick cookware, stain resistant carpets, waterproof clothing, shampoos, as well as fire retardants used by firefighters and products used on military bases. PFAS do not break down easily and contamination has been showing up in wells across New Hampshire.

One incident that brought a lot of attention to PFAS is the contamination brought on by Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Plant in Merrimack, which manufactures high-performance polymer products.  The NHDES tested drinking water wells in areas surrounding Saint Gobain in Merrimack, Litchfield, Bedford and Manchester. It was found that a number of these wells were contaminated with more than 70 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS.  Based on current proposals the NHDES has deemed the water in these wells unsafe for consumption.

Long term side effects of PFAS are still being studied, but with lab research on animals pointing to many types of cancers, it is understandable why residents surrounding Gobain and other production plants in NH are concerned.  Currently there are petitions to bring the proposed Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of PFAS in NH down from 70ppt to as low as 7ppt.  This is following federal research indicating there could still be human health risks with the current proposed standards.

On Monday April 22nd U.S. Representative Chris Pappas had a listening session in Merrimack for residents to voice their concerns and to discuss the change of the proposed MCL in NH. This is a matter that Pappas plans to bring with him to congress. He believes that it will be better to start from the top: "I think it makes far more sense to set that, in an aggressive fashion, at the federal level as opposed to having a patchwork system, state by state," he said.

These changes are not expected to happen overnight or even within this year. In the meantime, NHDES is working on setting regulations for testing in public water systems and informing nearby residents of potential PFAS contamination. Saint Gobain is in an agreement with the state to settle claims and to pay residents whose wells have been affected, and have been helping them connect to their local public water systems.  

For more links and information about the NH PFAS Investigation you can visit the NHDES website at: Click Here

For more information concerning the health effects of PFAS you can visit the NH Department of Health and Human Services website at: Click Here
News From Around The U.S.
From Super Bloom to Super Bust: The Water Crisis that Could Kill Borrego Springs

Disaster Risk Reduction Key to Mitigating Economic Losses - Cape Town
 
 Portland Nonprofit Calls for Action on PFAS-Contaminated Sludge Spread on Farmland

FDA Proposes New Fluoride Standard for Bottled Water, but Some Say it's Still Too High
Granite State Analytical Services, LLC. /  603-432-3044 [email protected] / www.granitestateanalytical.com
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