Are You Aware of the Poison in Your Drinking Water?

Mar 9
08:42

2010

Blanca  Somers

Blanca Somers

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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.

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Consider this quote: "U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer." So said Ralph Nader of the Ralph Nader Research Group. By the way,Are You Aware of the Poison in Your Drinking Water? Articles water utilities test for only about 75 of these. This article will focus on just one of these toxins found in most public water, chlorine.

So you buy an aquarium and some fish and you want to fill it with city faucet water. What is the first requirement? Yes, it is to de-chlorinate the water with tablets or by allowing the water to sit several days. If fish will die in chlorinated water, how can it be good for people? Yet, it is common in many cities for the maximum level of chlorine allowed in the public water system to be greater than what is recommended in swimming pools!

Chlorine does indeed work as a disinfectant in water. It kills bacteria such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. Unfortunately, it also damages the human body as well. Chlorine forms substances called THMs (trihalomethanes). These are cancer causing and damage cells. Chlorine can scar the arteries making them more susceptible to have cholesterol attach itself to the walls. Further, evidence shows that, when a city's water is contaminated and extra chlorine added, the number of cases of cancers of the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract increase. One source said that Mississippi drinking water contains approximately 63 cancer causing compounds that are made when chlorine combines with pollutants such as methanol and carbon disulphide that are present in the water.

Yet chlorine does not enter the body only through drinking. In fact, a greater risk of chlorine poisoning occurs in the shower. The hot water opens the pores and the chlorine, which evaporates at a lower temperature than water, enters through the lungs. This results in the formation of chloroform, which will cause bronchitis, and asthma, and will increase the risk of cancer. The warm chlorine water may also cause skin irritations such as eczema. Many have bought a chlorine shower filter to protect themselves.

Conscientious parents are rightly alarmed by all this. They know that the bodies of their small children are affected more by the contaminants than the parents are. Think of it; mothers who prepare formula with tap water may be inadvertently poisoning their baby!

Some deal with these alarming facts by buying bottled water. Yet consider this: bottled water may be no purer than tap water! This is because there are simply no government standards that require bottled water to be any better. A company could bottle tap water and ship it to another state with the label, "Pure Mountain Fresh Water." This is not honest but it is legal. The FDA itself states: "Companies that market bottled water as being safer than tap water are defrauding the American public." In other words, with bottled water you can't believe what the label says.

To be sure your water is safe, it is best to filter it yourself. This can be done at a minimum of cost. Start with something to filter your drinking and cooking water, like the Berkey Water Filter. Be sure the company promises their product will remove chlorine. Such promises are regulated by federal laws. Don't think of it as an expense, but an investment in the peace of mind that you are giving your family good, healthy water.