What's inside our tap water that's bad for our health? The most common health threats are chlorine, THMs, the heavy metal lead and cysts.
Below, you will find information related to each contaminant and you'll learn what you can do about it.
Chlorine & THMs Chlorine is an allergen and a neurotoxin.
It damages the digestive system and is dehydrating.
In children, it causes anemia.
When it vaporizes, during cooking or showering, it is a respiratory irritant that aggravates sinus problems and triggers asthma attacks.
Showering in chlorinated water dries out the skin and damages the hair follicles.
From a strictly cosmetic standpoint, it changes the color of the hair and reacts with chemicals in hair dye to create unusual tints.
It and other disinfection methods are used to be sure that what's inside our tap water does not cause outbreaks of waterborne illnesses, such as typhoid and cholera.
But, when these disinfection methods react with the bacteria that cause those illnesses, compounds referred to as THMs are formed.
THMs are known human carcinogens.
It was believed that the risk to public health was minor.
But, more and more researchers are reported that the cancer risk from exposure is relatively high, particularly when it comes to cancer of the bladder.
THM exposure doubles a person's risk of bladder cancer.
It is the fourth most common type of cancer in industrialized societies.
Chlorine and THMs can be easily removed with the right kitchen purifier, but you have to shop carefully, because most department store varieties only remove chlorine.
An effective showerhead filter is important as well, since the compounds are absorbed through the skin and inhaled along with the steam.
Only two showerhead filters on the market remove THMs.
Lead & Cysts If we could look at what's inside our tap water, we would see traces of the heavy metal lead, which build up in the body over time and interfere with our ability to absorb nutrients from the food that we eat.
In children, lead exposure causes brain damage.
We would also see tiny egg-like organisms floating inside.
They are resistant to public disinfection methods and cause gastrointestinal illnesses, similar to food poisoning.
The illness can be deadly to children and those with weakened immunities.
The steps necessary to remove lead and cysts are ion exchange and submicron filtration.
The best purifiers include both of those steps, along with the measures necessary to remove chemical contaminants.
What's inside our Tap Water that's good for us? Unless you use a home purifier that de-mineralizes (reverse osmosis and distillers) there are traces of the electrolytes necessary to insure "homeostasis".
Simply put, that means good hydration in the nerves, organs, blood stream and cells.
Ion exchange further improves the electrolyte content, as it removes lead and copper ions.
Water, itself is good for us, as long as it has been properly filtered.
Now, you know what's inside our tap water and hopefully, you'll take steps to improve the situation.