Dangerous substances found in water supply
Prosecutors arrested five researchers at national water-quality inspection agencies on charges of manipulating figures relating to harmful substances found in drinking water. The Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office said on December 20 that 14 out of 52 water-quality inspection agencies nationwide were found to manipulate figures showing the chemical content of water for use in elementary schools and homes. Specifically fudged were levels of nitrite-nitrogen in water carried through underground pipes, prosecutors said, a substance that can cause blood oxygen deficiency in infants. Prosecutors arrested five people, including the 54-year-old president of an environmental research institute, for manipulating figures, and indicted 32 others without arrest on charges of taking bribes and other violations. Nitrite-nitrogen is a pollutant material produced when bacteria dissolves organic materials. Nitrite-nitrogen in water means that the water has been exposed to decaying substances. If dangerous levels are consumed, it can prevent the blood from carrying oxygen, making the victim’s lips and face blue.A law requires potable water to contain nitrite-nitrogen below 10 ppm (parts per million), but some underground water was found to have 17 times more the allowed amount. Facilities that have been exposed to this water include 19 childcare centers, 168 schools, and 489 homes. Prosecutors and the Ministry of Environment also investigated 62 bottled-water makers; of them, 12 companies were found to bottle underground water that contained unsafe levels of bacteria and fluorine.
