POINT-OF-USE IS AN EFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE ARSENIC TREATMENT SOLUTION FOR COMPLIANCE WITH NEW FEDERAL LAW EPA Lowers the Arsenic Standard for Drinking Water to Protect the Health of American Families ATLANTA - November 1, 2001 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it would lower the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb. Point-of-Use (POU) solutions are the most affordable and effective way for water systems nationwide to meet compliance, according to Apyron Technologies, a developer of advanced materials. Almost 97 percent of the water systems affected by the new standard are small systems that serve less than 10,000 people each. Recently, the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) completed an EPA-commissioned cost analysis that stated that POU applications - filtration devices attached under a household's sink to treat the water that comes from the faucet - should be given greater consideration as a method of tackling arsenic contamination. The council's cost evaluations show that communities as large as 10,000 can benefit financially from this approach. "POU applications, especially high-performance adsorptive technology, will provide individual consumers, as well as small to mid-sized communities, with the most successful and cost-effective way to remove dangerous levels of arsenic from drinking water," says Rom Papadopoulos, chief executive officer of Apyron. "The low cost of treatment is a very small price to pay to ensure that the health of American families is protected." The EPA decision comes more than nine months after President Clinton proposed the new standard of 10 ppb. In March 2001, the EPA commissioned three studies to examine the benefits, health effects and cost associated with a lowered standard. The health effects study, conducted by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and delivered to the EPA in mid-September, concluded that the cancer risk associated with arsenic exposure is higher than previously thought, stating that people who drink water with arsenic levels of 3 ppb have a one in 1,000 risk of developing cancer. At 10 ppb, the risk is three in 1,000. For the past two decades, the EPA's maximum acceptable level of risk for all drinking water contaminants has been one in 10,000. The results of the NAS report were a prime factor in leading the EPA to reduce the standard. Point-of-Use: An Effective and Affordable Option According to the 2001 National Consumer Water Quality Survey, 9 out of 10 Americans have concerns about the quality of their tap water, and 65% of respondents indicate that they would pay for a home water treatment device to reduce arsenic if it were present in their drinking water. Although the EPA has now officially issued a new arsenic standard, public water systems will have until 2006 to comply with the new law. Many U.S. citizens will be exposed to high levels of arsenic for another five years, which could potentially threaten the health of many families. In addition, approximately 40 million Americans obtain their drinking water from private wells. These water supplies are not tested and regulated by the state, and therefore they will not be required to comply with the new standard. Many wells nationwide have extremely high levels of naturally occurring arsenic. POU treated water is more than 50% less costly than bottled water. Public water systems and individual families that choose POU can obtain a treatment system for as little as $100. Thereafter, the annual cost for operation and maintenance is a mere $30-50 per household. "Many families nationwide do not want to wait until their local water company complies with the new federal law," says Apyron's Papadopolous. "We have provided hundreds of households, served by both public and private water sources, with affordable solutions that effectively remove even high levels of arsenic up to 3,500 ppb to below detectible levels." Apyron's award-winning arsenic treatment solutions are in place throughout the U.S., including some of the most affected communities in Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wisconsin. This year, Apyron received an Innovative Technology award from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and an R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine for its arsenic treatment technology. Each year, WEF presents four Innovative Technology Awards to companies that have introduced new, innovative products or services related to water pollution control. The R&D 100 Awards have recognized the most technologically significant new products each year since 1963. Past winners include the automated teller machine (1973), the halogen lamp (1974), the fax machine (1975), the printer (1986), the Kodak Photo CD (1991), the Nicoderm antismoking patch (1992), Taxol anticancer drug (1993) and HDTV (1998). Widespread Need for Arsenic Treatment Arsenic, a known carcinogen, is found naturally in the soil throughout the United States. Based on data provided by the EPA, the National Resources Defense Council estimates that as many as 56 million people in the United States drink water with arsenic at unsafe levels. U.S. citizens living in New England and the western regions of the country - especially in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin - are the most affected by high levels of arsenic. Scientists and government agencies have studied the health effects of exposure to arsenic for years. According to a 1999 report published by the NAS, one out of every 100 individuals who regularly drinks water that contains 50 ppb of arsenic will fall ill with a potentially fatal form of cancer. Studies have indicated that children are at a much greater risk than adults. Non-cancer health effects include gangrene, limb loss, keratosis, neurological effects, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, immunological and endocrine disorders, hematological disorders and reproductive/developmental problems. In addition, arsenic is an accumulative enabler, meaning that people who are pre-disposed to various cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and other ailments, are more likely to fall ill. Studies have also shown that arsenic may pass through the placenta, causing birth defects, and that exposure to it may negatively affect children's intelligence levels and ability to learn. About Apyron Technologies Apyron develops, markets and licenses technology-based enabling materials for the creation of high-performance products that address customer needs in both established and emerging markets around the world. Applications of Apyron's proprietary technologies include solutions in the energy, transportation, chemical, medical and water industries. Founded in 1994, the Atlanta-based private company has more than 50 employees, including internationally respected chemists and scientists that manage projects in multiple countries. Apyron plans to become a publicly owned company within 9-12 months. © Copyright 2000 Apyron Technologies, Inc.   All rights reserved.