Thomas Mott Osborne: “I have been concerned about attacks made on the Bush administration for their decision to not immediately implement the…”

“I have been concerned about attacks made on the Bush administration for their decision to not immediately implement the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to reduce the standard on arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion until further research and data is provided. Since nearly everyone has heard of individuals being poisoned with arsenic, it is assumed that any amount of arsenic is detrimental and that not immediately implementing a lower standard of 10 parts per billion is anti-environment and insensitive to human health concerns. The 50 parts per billion standard has been in effect since 1942, and there is no sound evidence that having a standard of 50 parts per billion has led to increased health problems in the United States. Most people are not aware of the fact that arsenic is a naturally-occurring substance and is present in the groundwater in most western States and parts of the Midwest and even some parts of New England.”