Chemical Contaminants

Dry cleaners use chemicals to clean clothes and other fabrics. When these chemicals are breathed in, they can be harmful to your health. They can remain in the environment for decades.

Manufacturers who use chemicals designated by the State of Vermont as Chemicals of High Concern to Children, must report information about these chemicals to the Health Department.

The Vermont Department of Health worked with the Department of Environmental Conservation to respond to health concerns related to detection of the chemical PFOA in private drinking water wells in Bennington and North Bennington.

The Vermont Department of Health worked with the Agency of Agriculture to investigate the misue of the pesticide chlorpyrifos in treating residences in the Rutland area for bed bugs and other pests.

Explore Health Data Atlases and Dashboards Many Vermont public health map atlases and dashboard-styled reports are available on a per-topic basis. These atlases and reports also allow viewers to download data in commonly used formats.

What You Need to Know About Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water Coliform bacteria are one of the most common water contamination problems in private water systems in Vermont and throughout the U.S. Coliform is a family of bacteria common in...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that public water systems use chlorine for disinfection at the water treatment facility.

PFAS, including PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) are manufactured chemicals that stay in the environment for a very long time.

Pesticides, petrochemicals and other organic chemicals are human-made and do not occur naturally in drinking water.

What You Need to Know About Lead in Drinking Water Lead is a highly toxic metal. It can be found in both public and private water systems, in household plumbing, and in well components. Until around the 1950s, lead pipes...