It generally gets into water from mining and refining operations. L Thallium is found naturally in soils and is used in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and the manufacture of glass and alloys. It usually gets into water as a result of improper waste disposal. Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death in infants under six months of age. The serious illness in infants is caused because nitrate is converted to nitrite in the body.
Nitrite interferes with the oxygen carrying capacity of the child's blood.
While excessive levels of nitrite in drinking water have not been observed, other sources of nitrite have caused serious illness and sometimes death in infants under six months of age. The serious illness in infants is caused because nitrite interferes with the oxygen carrying capacity of the child's blood. Copper contaminating drinking water as a corrosion byproduct occurs as the result of the corrosion of copper pipes that remain in contact with water for a prolonged period of time. The most commonly found materials include service lines, pipes, brass and bronze fixtures, and solders and fluxes. Lead in these materials can contaminate drinking water as a result of the corrosion that takes place when water comes into contact with those materials.