Arsenic occurs naturally in rocks and soil across Minnesota. Small amounts can dissolve into groundwater that may be used for drinking water. Drinking water with arsenic in it can increase your risk of cancer and other serious health effects. It is important to know how much arsenic is in your drinking water and how you can reduce your exposure. Health Effects Drinking water with low levels of arsenic over a long time is associated with diabetes and increased risk of cancers of the bladder, lungs, liver, and other organs. Arsenic can also contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, reduced intelligence in children, and skin problems, such as lesions, discoloration, and the development of corns. Health impacts of arsenic may take many years to develop, especially if you are in contact with arsenic at a low level over a long time. How to Protect Yourself and Your Family The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L).* However, drinking water with arsenic at levels lower than the U.S. EPA standard over many years can still increase your risk of cancer. As a result, EPA has set a goal of 0 µg/L for arsenic in drinking water. This goal does not consider the cost of water treatment to completely remove arsenic from drinking water. *1 microgram per liter (µg/L) = 1 part per billion (ppb). If you have a private well Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends every private well is tested for arsenic at least once. As of 2008, well contractors test each newly drilled well for arsenic and share the results with the well owner and MDH. You can find existing test results online at Minnesota Well Index (see Resources). ▪ If arsenic was not detected in the first sample, your water is unlikely to have arsenic later. ▪ If arsenic was detected in the first sample, you may want to retest your well water about six months after construction. MDH research found that when arsenic is detected in a new well, the level may increase or decrease in the first few months after construction (see Private Well Protection Arsenic Study). MDH recommends you use an accredited laboratory to test your water. Contact a laboratory to get sample containers and instructions, or ask your county environmental or public health services if they provide well testing services (see Search for Accredited Laboratories). If arsenic is detected in your water and repeat sampling confirms the results, consider installing home water treatment or using a different source of drinking water (see Home Water Treatment). MDH highly recommends taking action if your water has an arsenic level above 10 µg/L. If you are on a public water system The EPA has a federal drinking water standard of 10 µg/L for public water systems serving places where people live, work, go to school, and receive childcare. These systems take action to reduce arsenic if levels exceed the standard. You can find the level of arsenic detected in the system serving where you live by reading the system’s water quality report (also known as a Consumer Confidence Report [CCR]). You can call your public water system to get a paper copy of your CCR, or you may be able to find it online (see Consumer Confidence Reports). Noncommunity systems serving schools, offices, factories, and childcare facilities test for arsenic; you can contact your non-community system to find the level of arsenic detected in the system. Noncommunity systems serving restaurants, resorts, and campgrounds are not required to test for arsenic. If you want to take additional steps to reduce your exposure to arsenic in drinking water, you can install home water treatment (see Home Water Treatment). Reduce Other Contact with Arsenic You may come into contact with arsenic in ways other than water. Use these tips to reduce your contact: ▪ Throw away arsenic-treated wood in the trash; do not burn it. ▪ Know the ingredients of all medications or health remedies you use, especially "folk" remedies. ▪ Seal arsenic-treated wood structures every six months to two years. ▪ Make sure children wash their hands after playing on structures with arsenic-treated wood. ▪ Wash and peel vegetables grown underground (e.g., potatoes, carrots). ▪ Eat less rice, cereal grains, or other foods that contain arsenic. ▪ Do not use old pesticides and soil supplements if they contain arsenic. (If they contain arsenic, drop them off at a hazardous waste collection site.) Background Information Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and rock and can dissolve into groundwater. For most people, food and water are the biggest sources of exposure to arsenic. There are two forms of arsenic:
Arsenic in Minnesota Water Arsenic can be found in groundwater throughout Minnesota but is more likely in some areas than others. Approximately 10 percent of private drinking water wells in Minnesota have arsenic levels higher than 10 µg/L. Some wells have levels as high as 350 µg/L. Arsenic levels can vary between wells, even within a small area. See a map of arsenic levels in private wells at Private Wells-Arsenic. Few public water systems have detected arsenic levels above the EPA standard. If a system detects arsenic levels above the standard, MDH works with the system to reduce the level. Source and Resources: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/contaminants/arsenicfactsht.pdf
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Advancing Mangrove Knowledge A Newsletter from the Global Mangrove Alliance The International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, adopted by UNESCO in 2015, is an important commemorative day, not only to recognize the incredible benefits that mangroves provide wildlife and humanity, but also to learn about the coastal trees and better understand their full value. The Global Mangrove Alliance is proud to be connecting knowledge and supporting tools required to integrate mangroves and their ecosystem services into mitigation, adaptation, disaster risk reduction and land-use strategies with community and national leaders. A variety of tools and resources are available in our Knowledge Hub and are added to regularly. This mangrove day, take a look through the Global Mangrove Watch evidence base, read about The State of the World’s Mangroves–globally and in the Western Indian Ocean Region–or look through a variety of principles and manuals for restoration and management success. The latest updates from our Alliance are below and you can stay connected with news on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to learn about additional projects, international events, and more. If you are part of an organization that is interested in joining the Alliance and getting advanced knowledge and access to data tools, you can find all the information you need here. Happy International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems! Global Mangrove Watch Online Course - Now Available on a Self-Paced Schedule! Global Mangrove Watch Global Mangrove Watch (GMW), in partnership with The Reef Resilience Network, recently wrapped up the Global Mangrove Watch Mentored Online Course. If you missed the mentored course, GMW is now launching a self-paced version where you can access the lessons at any time. In addition to English and Spanish, the lessons will soon be available in French and Bahasa Indonesia. The Course enables managers and practitioners to confidently navigate the GMW platform and learn how to utilize its data and tools in support of mangrove conservation and restoration efforts. Collectively, these lessons provide a comprehensive overview of how remote sensing is used to map mangroves, how the GMW platform can be used to access and interpret mangrove data and generate reports. Course participants will also learn about the capacity of mangroves to store carbon, and the role mangroves can play in climate mitigation and policy globally. Sign up for an account at ConservationTraining.org. Once you have created an account, either click this enroll link to access the course room and enroll, or search for “Global Mangrove Watch Online Course". Mangrove Photography Awards Gallery Mangrove Action Project Celebrate World Mangrove Day by enjoying every submitted photo from this year's Mangrove Photography Awards. For the past month we have invited people from all over the world to raise their voices for the protection of one of our most critical and undervalued ecosystems. The photos illustrate the importance and diversity of life in our coastal forests and give us a fascinating insight into the world of mangroves from all corners of the earth. The State of Mangroves in the Western Indian Ocean Wetlands International & Save Our Mangroves Now!The most reliable and up-to-date information currently available on the spatial extent and recent changes in mangrove distribution in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region has been compiled into a new report The State of Mangroves in the Western Indian Ocean. The report includes quantification and maps of mangrove blue carbon, drivers of change, and restoration potential. It is a first in a series of spin-offs of 2021's The State of the Worlds Mangroves report. This comprehensive publication makes evident that mangrove conservation efforts need to step up in the region. We've had a loss of nearly 4% of mangrove cover in the Western Indian Ocean over the past 24 years but the potential for restoration is high, with at least 40,900 ha available for restoration. Read the full report here for recommendations on reaching restoration goals through governance, cross-country coordination, and developing and adopting practical tools, approaches, and best practices to manage the complex interactions between mangroves, their biodiversity and people. Global efforts by Fauna & Flora International and partners to protect and restore mangroves Fauna & Flora International Fauna & Flora International (FFI) supports local stakeholders to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide. FFI views mangrove protection and restoration as an integral part of our global efforts to reverse biodiversity loss and combat climate change. Across their marine project portfolio, they are working with in-country partners to ensure that mangroves receive the attention they deserve. FFI’s work in Cambodia is focusing on the establishment of a national network of MPAs, building on their critical support for the designation of Cambodia’s first Marine National Park in the Koh Rong Archipelago in 2018. In Tanzania, FFI has been partnering with Mwambao Coastal Community Network on Pemba island for seven years, who are now scaling up and taking an ecosystem-based approach to coastal resource management and adaptation to climate change in northern Tanzania, incorporating 10,000 hectares of coastal forest across Zanzibar and the mainland. In Honduras, FFI is supporting five local partners to conserve a 300,00ha seascape that comprises three important marine protected areas and a rich diversity of marine species and habitats. Learn more about all three of these projects in this web story. Meet the WIO Mangrove Messengers Save Our Mangroves Now! For the UN Ocean Conference Save our Mangroves Now! launched the first of four impact stories, chronicling the life of people dedicated to mangrove conservation in the Western Indian Ocean region. This story centers around Mama Mikoko (“Mother Mangrove”) and her Mtangawanda Mangrove Restoration Women Group in Lamu, Kenya. The goal is to bring the WIO voice to the international level and make sure that those often first affected by rising temperatures and sea levels are heard. The second story, taking place in Madagascar, will be published on World Mangrove Day. If you are interested in learning more about the mangrove messengers, feel free to contact [email protected]. Mangrove Action Project Celebrates its 30th Anniversary! Mangrove Action Project (MAP) Over the past 30 years, MAP has been enthusiastically working to protect and restore mangrove forests around the world. Today, they're working with forest communities, research academics, governments, policy makers, and international policy and funding groups to support the conservation of existing mangroves, educate on how to restore degraded or unhealthy mangrove ecosystems, and support multiple generations to take an active interest in their local forests. MAP has grown from an associate group under the umbrella of San Francisco-based Earth Island Institute in 1992 to become an independent NGO as of 2006. Since its founding, MAP has developed its award-winning mangrove restoration workshops which have been taught across the globe from El Salvador and Honduras to Myanmar and Tanzania. They have also taught over a quarter of a million children about the importance of mangroves through their Marvellous Mangrove education curriculum. Source: https://www.mangrovealliance.org/ |
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Octubre 2022
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