[미국] 플린트시 식수 목욕수질로도 안전

사람들은 대개 물을 마시기 전 정수처리를 거치고 있지만 미국 플린트시의 수도는 음용수질을 눈에 띄게 향상시켰을 뿐만 아니라 목욕·샤워용 물의 수질도 안전한 것으로 드러났다.

지난해 여름 플린트시 수도의 납 오염물질을 확인하는 시험을 진행했던 버지니아 공대 Marc Edwards 교수는 최근 몇 달 간의 샘플을 종합한 결과 납 농도가 지속적으로 감소하고 있음을 발견했다고 밝혔다. Edwards 교수는 또한 살균제 화학품의 부산물이 정상 수준을 기록하는 한편, 레지오넬라증(Legionnaires' disease)의 원인이 될 수 있는 박테리아도 감소하고 있다고 덧붙였다.

[원문보기]

Flint water safe for bathing, scientists say

Although people should continue filtering the water before drinking it, municipal water in Flint, Mich., has improved significantly and is safe for bathing and showering, scientists said Tuesday.

Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech engineering professor whose testing last summer confirmed lead contamination of the city's water, said sampling in recent months has found that lead levels are steadily declining. Edwards also said that bacteria that can cause Legionnaires' disease is declining, while byproducts from disinfectant chemicals are at normal levels.

"We're seeing some very, very encouraging results," Edwards said at a news conference in Flint, today. Results of another round of testing expected in August will make the situation clearer, he said.

Edwards was hired by the city in January to independently oversee water testing.

He said Tuesday that phosphate treatments to coat pipes and reduce corrosion was having a positive effect, as was a program that provides financial assistance for water use.

Edwards and two other scientists -- David Reckhow of the University of Massachusetts and Shawn McElmurry of Wayne State University in Detroit -- said during the news conference their analyses had shown that levels of disinfectant byproducts in Flint water were typical of those in other cities.

[출처 = Water World / 2016년 6월 1일]