"Drought-driven drinking water contamination is disproportionately affecting members of California’s Latino communities, a new study has found.

Among the pollutants plaguing these water systems are arsenic and nitrate, which are linked to an increased risk of a variety of diseases, according to the study, published Wednesday in the American Journal of Public Health. Some such illnesses include cancers, cardiovascular diseases, developmental disorders and birth defects.

Oftentimes, community water systems that distribute water with higher contaminant concentrations exist in areas that lack sufficient public infrastructure or sociopolitical and financial support, the authors noted. Meanwhile, drought conditions generally make water sources less dilute, thereby triggering a spike in contaminant concentrations."

Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill August 8, 2024. [2]