A research project at the University of Iowa is offering private well owners in six counties free arsenic testing kits to see if there is a need to offer the kits in all 99 counties. UI Professor David Cwiertny helps lead the Iowa Integrated Network for Science, Information and Geospatial Health Tracking, known as INSIGHT, which is making the kits available to private well owners in Mitchell, Floyd, Cedar, Jones, Benton and Plymouth counties.
He says they chose these six counties because there is limited data on arsenic levels in their private wells.
Arsenic is naturally occurring, but even small amounts have been linked to health risks like cancer. Residents of the six counties can request a free arsenic test kit at the INSIGHT website.
