Scientists have long known that arsenic in drinking water is a health threat, but its affects on the brain were less clear.

A new study using fruit flies revealed that arsenic exposure can lead to damage to vision, motor function and other parts of the neurological system.

Arizona groundwater contains arsenic that leaches into aquifers from rocks. Rural communities often lack the resources to fully treat it.

Before the town of Bouse overhauled its groundwater system in 2025, residents were hesitant to drink from their taps. More specifically, Bouse residents were wary of drinking arsenic, a common pollutant in Arizona’s aquifers.

“For years, we would buy five-gallon water bottles and put them on a stand in our kitchen,” Bouse resident Kerrie McBain said in an interview.

A new study fr

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