Dentist Finder San Diego

Photo by Damon Winter/The New York Times

Residents near Charleston, WV, may be suffering from health problems including dental erosion because of chemical pollution in drinking water, according to an article in the New York Times.

Local mining companies appear to be the cause of contaminated water supply. Rinse water from coal cleansing has been pumped into the soil causing high levels of arsenic, lead, chromium, beryllium, nickel, and other pollutants, which have now entered the ground water supply.

One of the residents of the affected town is 7-year-old Ryan Massey (pictured) who now has several crowns because of tooth erosion. Other members of the Massey family have also suffered an increase in their need for dental care recently. Their family dentist told them that the chemicals in the water appeared to be damaging their teeth. Despite eating healthy and proper dental care they continued getting cavities until the family stopped using the tap water and switched to bottled water to brush their teeth. Ryan’s younger brother has not had any dental problems because he has always used bottled water to brush his teeth, according to Ryan’s mother.

Medical professionals in the area say residents show unusually high rates of health problems. Many people in the community have linked dental erosion to the pollution as well as gallbladder disease, rashes, and other health problems, and some are suing the coal companies, the newspaper reported.

Because of poor enforcement of the Clean Water Act, such pollution is becoming more common around the U.S. according to the article.