How are you Handling the Poison in Your Drinking Water?
By Samuel S. Peters | July 29, 2008
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Though most would hardly think there are health risks found in their water, according to Ralph Nader, it is only one of 2,100 toxic chemicals found in most city water that can cause cancer. Yet most water systems only test for about 75 of these contaminants. This article will focus on one of them, chlorine.
When I was a kid, I won a fish at the carnival. I was thrilled! The first think I had to do, of course, was to buy a larger tank and fill it with tap water. Yet, so as not to kill my trophy, I had to treat water with some de-chlorinating tablets. Question: if fish will die in chlorinated water, why do we think it’s OK for us to drink it? Yet, shocking as this may seem, the acceptable level of chlorine in some water systems is above the maximum recommended for swimming pools!
Chlorine is an excellent disinfectant. We use chlorine bleach to clean a house or purify a well. Bacteria such as typhoid, cholera, or dysentery are wiped out in its presence. However, chlorine also damages the body. It produces substances called THMs (trihalomethanes). These damage the cells and are cancer causing. Chlorine can also damage the arteries making is easier for cholesterol to attach itself to their walls. At times contamination gets into a city water system and it must be purged with extra chlorine. Research shows that such times evoke an increase in bladder, kidney, and urinary tract cancers. Drinking water taken from the Mississippi River contains 63 cancer causing compounds all of which are made when chlorine reacts with pollutants such as carbon disulphide and methanol, both present in the water.
Drinking chlorinated water is only part of the problem. An even greater risk of chlorine poisoning occurs in the shower! The hot water, combined with steam, causes the body to take in far more chlorine than it would with just drinking water. Steam can contain up to 20 times the concentration of chlorine that tape water has because it evaporates at a lower temperature than water. The result is chloroform gas in the air that may cause bronchitis, asthma, and a greater risk of cancer. Further, the open pores take in chlorine causing skin irritations such as eczema.
This is all shocking news to parents! After all, children’s bodies are much more susceptible to chemical changes as described above. What conscientious parents want to poison their child?
So how can people be sure of giving themselves and their family safe water? A popular option is to purchase bottled water. The problem with this is that, unless you know the source, it could be an unwarranted trust. The fact is, there are no federal regulations concerning bottled water. A company may promise fresh spring water on the label, but pour tap water inside. Yes, to do so is not breaking the law, and it is being done today. So, obviously, pouring money into bottled water is not the answer.
The only safe sure way to guarantee your family is getting chlorine free water is to filter it yourself. Start by purchasing a filter that promises to remove chlorine. Carbon filters do this. The small investment to filter your drinking and cooking water is well worth the peace of mind that will result.
Topics: Nutrition |
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