Mayor Adams laments not being told earlier about arsenic in NYCHA complex drinking water

New York City Mayor Eric Adams distributes water bottles at the New York City Housing Authority’s Jacob Riis Houses in Manhattan, New York on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. Photo Courtesy: New York Daily News

Kathmandu: NYC Mayor Adams is sorry about arsenic being discovered in the drinking water at a massive New York City Housing Authority complex in Manhattan.

NYCHA brass first found out this past Thursday that elevated levels of the dangerous chemical had been detected in the water at the Riis Houses in the East Village.

However, as reported by the New York Daily News, Adams claimed he wasn’t told of the arsenic until the next day, suggesting a communication breakdown may be to blame.

Large doses of arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Long-term exposure to the chemical can lead to skin disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The city has directed Riis Houses residents to not drink from their taps until further testing is done at the complex. City workers are distributing free bottled water to residents in the interim.

(News Source: New York Daily News)