- Tens of millions of Americans are exposed to unsafe drinking water each year.
- The problem is most egregious in rural areas, but a few major cities face a widespread threat of contamination.
- Some of the most common contaminants found in tap water include lead, which can produce permanent brain damage in children, and PFOA, which has been linked with cancer.
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Access to clean water may be a fundamental human right, but it's far from a reality in many towns and cities across America.
Even in the wake of the Flint water crisis, which exposed around 10,000 residents in Michigan to lead-contaminated drinking water, an estimated ten of millions of Americans are still exposed to unsafe drinking water each year.
Read more: 11 cities with the worst tap water in the US
The problem is most egregious in rural areas, but a few major cities face a widespread threat of contamination, which could have lifelong consequences for the health of local residents.
Exposure to toxins such as radium or arsenic can lead to cancer, while exposure to lead can produce permanent brain damage in children. Here are some of the most terrifying toxins that pervade America's water supply.