Drinking water contaminations have affected water piped to more than 49 million Americans since 2004, according to an exhaustive study just completed by The New York Times. And while the government is aware of the violations, it has rarely fined or punished the violators.

PCE is a commonly used solvent and frequent contaminant of drinking water supplies. So, should you worry about it?

The answer is yes, according to a study published in the open access journal Environmental Health in September. The study tracked the infants of pregnant women exposed to the chemical inadvertently by PCE coating inside water piping used on Cape Cod between 1969 and 1983.

In 2004, the US Environmental Protection Agency reported that diesel fuel, used as a fracturing fluid, results in toxic compounds being left underground, “likely to be transported by groundwater supplies.”

In the wake of EWG’s report, New York City Councilman James F. Gennaro demanded the state acknowledge its lack of testing in the matter and perform tests to see whether the proposed chemicals would be dangerous to the NYC water supply.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) identifies perchlorate as a thyroid toxin that particularly affects infants and fetuses.

The EPA last year decided not to regulate perchlorate as a drinking water pollutant, according to the medicalnewstoday.com article.

Study authors expressed concern for infants, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. They also called for comprehensive improvements in the nation’s water supply systems.