Only 75 of the 2100 possible toxic chemicals found in water are regularly checked by public facilities. Chlorine, for example, is both added and checked. It is added because, over the distance and time public water has to travel before being consumed, bacteria and other pathogens could grow in it. The addition of chlorine rids the water of many of these toxins along with removing the possible presence of cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
This sounds good but it comes at a price. Chlorine is able to form substances called THMs (trihalomethanes). These chemicals are cancer causing and are able to damage cells. Chlorine can also scar the arteries thus making it easier for cholesterol to attach itself to the walls. Yet, shockingly, many cities allow levels of chlorine in water systems that exceed recommended swimming pool levels!
To make matters worse, when a city’s water is contaminated and extra chlorine is added, an increase in the number of cases of cancers of the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract is evident. Drinking water in Mississippi, some report, contains as many as sixty-three cancer causing compounds that are made from chlorine combining with water pollutants such as carbon disulfide and methanol.
To solve this chlorine problem we can just filter our drinking water and all is well, right? No, it’s not that simple. A greater risk of chlorine poisoning than drinking water occurs, of all places, in the shower! The hot water and steam subject the body to far more chlorine than would be present in drinking water alone. You see, chlorine evaporates at a lower temperature than water and, as a result, the steam of the shower can contain up to 20 times the concentration of chlorine that liquid water might have. During a 20 minute shower, a person could breathe in the same amount of chlorine they would get drinking two quarts of water. In the confines of the shower or bathroom, the concentration only increases. Then the chloroform gas in the air could cause asthma, bronchitis, and also a greater risk of cancer. The warm open pores of the skin also absorb chlorine and this can cause skin irritations such as eczema.
How do you know if you are getting chlorine poisoning? Evidence of mild chlorine toxicity may include eye, skin, or airway irritation, sore throat, headaches, and cough. Chest tightness may indicate a higher level.
Several years ago a friend shared that every time she cleaned the bathtub, she would suffer from breathing problems and exhaustion. She later discovered the cause: the chlorine bleach and ammonia were reacting to give off chlorine gas in the confined tub area. In a similar way, the confined area of the shower along with heated, chlorinated water, can cause a person to inhale more chlorine than he realizes.
This problem can be solved with a special shower water filter designed to remove chlorine before the water comes out of the head. One example, made by Berkey Water Filter, is able to remove up to ninety-five percent of the chlorine in the water, and in addition to remove hydrogen sulfide, scale, microorganisms, and water-soluble heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and iron. In addition, the filter is able to kill bacteria and to inhibit the growth of algae and fungi. This particular showerhead is also able to reduce lime scale and mold in the shower which making it easier to keep clean.
We have seen that chlorine poisoning can be a serious health issue for those using city water. Be encouraged to reduce its intake by filtering shower water as well as your drinking and cooking water.
Possibly related articles:
- Is Chlorine Drinking Water Safe To Ingest
- Chlorine Drinking Water Can Cripple
- The Dangers Of Lead In Drinking Water
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Tags: chlorine shower filter, shower filters, shower head filter, shower water filter
