What's in your water?

Chlorine
Chlorine is not a cure-all. Traditionally, the response of water treatment operators to any crisis is to pour chlorine into any water which is suspect. It was introduced to water purification because of its remarkable ability to kill bacteria, and it does that job well.

Beyond reducing bacteria, Chlorine does nothing to neutralize other pollutants. 

A glass of water can look like it just came from a mountain stream, while the viruses and poisonous chemicals can remain in your drink, from its severe limitations, the dependence on chlorine is troubling to many water experts for another reason, it is itself very potent, and leaves poisonous gases which stay in the water after doing its work. It has been implicated recently by several different studies as a potential contributor to heart failure.

Since the early 1980s, scientists have known that the presence of free chlorine in water is a primary cause of, and completely linked with, the development of atherosclerosis. It causes fats to form the cholesterol deposits known as plaque. It is the plaque that clogs arteries, resulting in heart attacks and strokes. Further studies demonstrated that chlorine destroys vitamin E. This is an essential antioxidant and a lack of this vitamin impedes heart muscle function, weakens capillary walls and constricts blood vessels, thereby elevating blood pressure and increasing the risk of heart disease.

 Of particular concern are the compounds formed from the reaction of chlorine with organic matter producing Trihalomethanes (THM'S) which are known to damage the kidney, liver and nervous system. Many THM's are known to be carcinogenic.

Trihalomethanes (THM?s)
Trihalomethanes present in drinking water include chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, and bromodichloromethane. These compounds are formed from the reaction of chlorine with organic matter such as humus, peat and other organic material found in water from moorland reservoirs and nutrient-rich lowland rivers and are present in the water during the disinfecting process. The greater the dose of Chlorine, the greater the risk of producing THM?s. West Germany has adopted a limit of 12 micro grams as opposed to the EC limit of 100 micro grams (UK takes a three-month average as being acceptable!!) The safe drinking water committee of the National Research Council in the USA reported in 1987 that this limit was ?insupportable on the basis of risk values? and should be reduced. The caution follows findings in the USA of what one published paper described as a ?highly significant relationship? between THM?s and cancer, particularly cancers of the bladder, colon and rectum.

A recent study by doctors from Harvard and the University of Wisconsin, published in a prestigious journal, found the Disinfection By-Products (THM?s) may be responsible for 10,700 or more rectal and bladder cancers per year. In addition to THM?s the Health Effects Research Laboratory scientists have found that two other potent carcinogenic substances are formed when chlorine interacts with organic material created by the decay of plants. One of these known as MX has shown up in every chlorinated drinking water source tested for it.

Nitrates
Nitrate fertilizers are spread on farm land to increase crop yields and have been used in unprecedented amounts in recent years, 1.3 million tons used in 1986, up by 100% from 1966. Concern has been mounting for years over the amount leaching into rivers, ponds, ground water, and eventually, into tap water. It is estimated that the true nitrate problem will not be known for at least 20 years. Already, in certain areas of England and Ireland consumers have been advised not to make up baby?s bottles with the water supplied to their homes. Many people with bore holes and wells can no longer use them because of high levels of nitrates. In the alimentary tract ingested nitrate can break down to nitrite, which is known to be toxic

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In 1980 the European commission ruled that drinking water could not contain more than 50mg/litre of nitrate. In 1984 the World Health Organization produced evidence of clear links between nitrates and the Blue Baby Syndrome (Methaemoglobinaemia), a condition which reduces the oxygen in the baby?s blood. Nitrates have also been linked to stomach and intestinal cancer.

Pesticides/Herbicides
Pesticides and herbicides that have been poured on to fields and elsewhere to kill pests and weeds can run off into nearby streams or seep down through the soil to pollute underground water and contaminate drinking water. These include insecticides, fungicide, rodenticides and fumigants. What they all share in common is that they are all poisons, manufactured and labeled as poisons and most find their way eventually into water sources. Up to 16 million people in UK have received tap water, which contains illegally high levels of pesticides. The Department of the Environment wants the EC to raise the limit for some pesticides which, it says are safer than others!

Aluminium
Aluminium can occur naturally in water but it is also used in purification processes and used to clear cloudy water. It dissolves easily in acidic water of which we now have plenty, thanks to acid rain. Surveys have shown that Aluminium levels exceeding the EC limit have affected over 2 million people in the UK. There is growing concern regarding a link between Aluminium in water and Alzheimer?s disease, the onset of early senile dementia, which is a growing problem in this country. This was highlighted in The Lancet as early as January 1989. There is urgent need for further study on this subject. Aluminium has been banned for use in water treatment by the Government in Sydney, Australia. Canada is also reassessing its use, and has put a ceiling of 100mg until further research is carried out. Aluminium also leeches out calcium from the bones.

Fluoride

The Pasteur Institute and the Nobel Institute have caused fluoride to be banned in their countries, France and Sweden respectively. Growing concerns of the accumulative effects of fluoride ingestion are pouring in from all over the world. The fluoride placed into the majority of drinking water supplies is in the form of hydrofluocilicic acid or sodium silicofluoride. These are waste products of the phosphorous and phosphate fertilizer industries. It is known to be more toxic than lead and only slightly less toxic than arsenic. An association was shown between chronic fluoride intoxication and lowered intelligence as measured by IQ tests; chromosomal abnormalities; decreased immunity; thyroid dysfunction; heart disease and abnormal electrocardiograms; and cancer. There is worldwide concern in the scientific community on the long-term effects of ingested fluoride on the skeletal structure and the links with osteoscarcoma in young males. Fluorosis in children has led to the forming of a register for these individuals in the UK. Both the Pasteur institute in France, and the Nobel institute in Sweden, concur that fluoride has little or no effect as a dental cavity deterrent, and stress that the possible health risks from using fluoride outweigh any benefit. Fluoride is banned in these countries.

Though little is known about hundreds of these chemical pollutants, many of them are already identified as killers. Of the following, all are known to be poisonous, and all have been found in dangerous levels both in drinking water and in human tissue:
Mercury is associated with a broad range of human illness. In addition to cancer, birth defects, and mutations, it can cause headache, slurred speech, blurred vision, deafness, loss of co-ordination of limbs, diarrhoea, and kidney damage. It may cause damage to brain cells, and the effects may not show up for many years.

Arsenic causes disabilities similar to those of Mercury. Arsenic poisoning is easily misdiagnosed, and its effects may not appear for years. Symptoms include weakness, headache, weight loss, damage to the brain or central nervous system and cancer of the skin or liver.
Cadnium is another toxic chemical, which has been linked to high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis.

Lead is potentially very hazardous and can affect a wide range of body functions. It is known to cause brain damage in children. Young children, especially bottle-fed infants and foetuses are particularly vulnerable. Infants consuming even very small amounts of lead can lead to irreversible brain damage, intellectual, emotional, and developmental problems, numerous nervous system impairments and stunted growth. Lead gives a sweet taste to water, causing people to mistakenly believe their water is particularly ?good?! Since lead accumulates in the human body, particular care must be taken to ensure that lead does not enter your water supply.

Drinking plenty of water is essential for healthy, glowing skin - especially as we grow older and the skin begins to lose its moisture content.

Like the rest of the body, the skin is about two-thirds water and is the major organ through which water is lost. One of its functions is to eliminate toxins from the body in the form of perspiration. In hot weather, perspiration also helps lower body temperature. Even at rest the skin can lose up to ½ litre to the atmosphere every day, and during hot weather will lose even more.

Drinking plenty of water - eight large glasses a day - is vital to replenish water lost throughout the day. Otherwise, water will be diverted from vital organs like the kidneys and the skin will be the first organ to suffer.

Reverse Osmosis Purifiers

Reverse Osmosis can clear a remarkable amount of pollution from drinking water supplies, and are a very worth while investment to consider if you suspect that your water has more than average amount  of contamination in it, or if you want the highest quality drinking water that you can get.  The chart below gives you an indication of how effective a Reverse Osmosis unit can be.

Compare the Total Dissolved Solids  (TDS) of your Tap Water with your RO water.

Before using RO (TDS range 250-450ppm)	After using RO purifier (TDS range 5-26ppm)
250ppm	12ppm

Material / element	% removed	Material / element	% removed
Barium	97%	Potassium	92%
Bicarbonate	94%	Radium	97%
Cadmium	97%	Selenium	97%
Calcium	97%	Silicate	96%
Chromate	92%	Silver	85%
Copper	97%	Sodium	92%
Detergents	97%	Strontium	97%
Fluoride	90%	Sulphate	97%
Lead	97%	PCBs	97%
Magnesium	97%	Insecticides	97%
Nickel	97%	Herbicides	97%
Nitrates	80%
Total removed	95%