We're proponents of tap water over bottled water, but this makes us take some notice. A new study commissioned by an environmental watchdog group found elevated traces of a metal that has been known to cause cancer in tap water samples from 31 cities, including Chicago. more ›

In case news about prescription drugs and other harmful chemicals in your tap water wasn't gross enough, how about a compound that could cause skin conditions, altered psychological states, or even (cue Trumpets of Doom) death? Oh, and it keeps mosquitoes away, too. Following reports from the AP and the Chicago Tribune that found drugs in the city's tap water like anti-seizure medications as well as chemicals like those that make Teflon and Scotchguard, the Sun-Times does some "me too" journalism and finds - just in time for spring! - trace amounts of DEET. DEET is a bug repellent that can cause all sorts of bad stuff with enough exposure, or if too much of it is ingested. more ›