2025-08-06 バージニア工科大学（Virginia Tech）
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/08/eng-dog-toxic-water-warning-sign.html
- https://journals.plos.org/water/article?id=10.1371/journal.pwat.0000296
ドッグ・エイジング・プロジェクトの参加者から収集した飲料水中の重金属の検査 Testing for heavy metals in drinking water collected from Dog Aging Project participants
Courtney L. Sexton,Janice O’Brien,Justin Lytle,Sam Rodgers,Amber Keyser,Mandy Kauffman,Matthew D. Dunbar,Dog Aging Project Consortium, ,Marc Edwards,Leigh Anne Krometis,Audrey Ruple
PLOS Water Published: August 6, 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000296
Abstract
Heavy metals are commonly found in groundwater and can affect the quality of drinking water. In this pilot study, we analyzed the quality of drinking water for dogs participating in the Dog Aging Project (DAP) who lived in homes not served by a municipal water supply. In order to capture both diverse and localized environmental factors that may affect drinking water, 200 owners of DAP dogs located in one of 10 selected states were invited to participate. We tested for the presence of 28 metals in dogs’ drinking water, including eight (8) heavy metals that have maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and five (5) heavy metals that have EPA health guidance levels. The eight metals with MCLs are known to cause chronic health issues in humans after long-term ingestion. Our aim in this pilot was to determine whether such elements could be detected by at-home sampling of dogs’ drinking water, and, using regression models, to examine associations between water source variables, metal values, and developed disease. We found detectable levels of all metals tested. There were 126 instances when an analyte (arsenic, lead, copper, sodium, strontium, nickel, or vanadium) was above the EPA MCL or health guidance level. We further identified potential association between the presence of titanium and chromium, and occurrence of a known health condition in dogs. This prompts further investigation with a larger, stratified sample analyzing dogs’ drinking water composition and long-term health and wellness outcomes in dogs living in diverse geographies. These results may impact veterinary care decisions and husbandry, and underscore the validity and importance of utilizing dogs as sentinels of human health outcomes in the context of drinking water contamination.
Author summary
Clean and safe drinking water is critical for people and animals alike. Because pet and companion dogs often live in homes with people, they frequently share drinking water sources, which means they can both be affected if that drinking water is contaminated. The risk of consuming contaminated drinking water may be higher for dogs and people who are served by non-municipal well sources, because well water is not subject to standardized testing for potentially harmful elements. In this pilot study, dog owners participating in the Dog Aging Project, a long-term study of dog health and aging, provide samples of their dogs’ drinking water, which are tested for 28 potentially toxic metals. Analyses of the dogs’ drinking water show that across 10 states in the U.S., metals are detectable in all samples, some above limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Given the potential toxicity of metals in drinking water, we propose further analyses of samples, contamination sources, and health outcome
