After lifting a ban on drinking tap water for two-thirds of those affected by the chemical spill in West Virginia, officials made another announcement on Thursday stating the water was still too dangerous for pregnant women to consume, according to Reuters.
State water officials released a statement advising pregnant women to "consider an alternative drinking water source...until the chemical is at non-detectable levels in the water distribution system," Reuters reported.
The CDC also announced pregnant women should use an "abundance of caution" when using any water that is not bottled due to the "limited availability of data" on whether the chemical is likely to have harsher effects on them or their child, Reuters reported.
After the water tests showed levels below the safety standard required by the CDC, officials announced more than 200,000 people could start using tap water again, but warned pregnant women should avoid doing so until news of the chemical being completely removed from the pipes is announced, according to Reuters.
The lift on the ban for everyone but mothers-in-waiting came a week after the chemical spill sent 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, or crude MCHM, into the Elk River contaminating the water supply for nine counties, Reuters reported.
The crude MCHM chemical which was spilled into the water is used for coal-washing and the site where the chemicals were being held had not been inspected since 1991, according to Reuters. Freedom Industries, who were housing the chemicals, have since apologized for the leak.
The chemicals smell of licorice, according to Reuters, and just coming into contact with the contaminated water can cause rashes, diarrhea, dizziness, vomiting and nausea.
