![]() |
![]() |
Nutrition Information |
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
The Two Faces of Chlorine
If you are like most people, you don't enjoy the taste of chlorine in your drinking water. Nevertheless, you're willing to put up with it because it kills certain bacteria that are harmful to your health. This article will look at the "Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde" characteristics of chlorinated water. These characteristics are much more ominous than the mere combination of bad taste and health benefits might suggest. The Dr. Jekyll of Water Treatment . . . Time magazine hailed the use of chlorination in water treatment as one of the major scientific achievements of the 20th century. Chlorine was first used to treat the public water supplies of Jersey City, New Jersey in 1908. Since then, it has achieved almost universal application in the industrialized nations. The impact of chlorinating public water supplies has been dramatic. In 1908, the average life expectancy in America was 49 years. At the turn of the 21st Century, the average life expectancy had risen to 77 years and it is still climbing. In 1941, Mathieson Alkali Works published the document, "Hypo-Chlorination of Water." The document colorfully described the lifesaving benefits of chlorine: "The fearsome specter of water-borne diseases, including typhoid fever, so prevalent before the advent of chlorination, can be successfully laid to rest. The water works operator, by his testing and treating, stands as a vigilant sentinel to prevent armies of billions of disease organisms from invading the homes of his community." The use of this chemical in the treatment of drinking water is responsible for the elimination of typhoid and cholera, especially in developed countries. The Mr. Hyde of Water Treatment . . . The benefits of using chlorine as a sanitizing agent are obvious. However, this water treatment agent has a darker side. All the time we thought we were preventing epidemics of one disease? we were creating another. Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water the present epidemic of heart trouble and cancer began. When water treatment facilities employ chlorine and other disinfectants to control microbial contaminants, they react with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter in the water. This reaction produces Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM). These trihalomethanes are chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform. According to the EPA, trihalomethanes are present in most public water supplies. The scarey thing is that some scientific studies link TTHMs to an increased risk of cancer. The U.S. Council of Environmental Quality reports that Cancer risks among people using chlorinated water are up to 93% higher than among those whose water contains no chlorine. Other studies suggest that TTHMs may cause problems in the reproductive process. They may also be linked to heart, lung, kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage. Skin Absorption of Chlorine . . . Most assessments of the effects of water borne contaminants on the human body assume that ingestion through the drinking of water is the primary route of exposure. However, recent studies at the University of Pittsburgh found less chemical exposure from drinking chlorinated water than from showering or washing clothes in it. The study found that, on average, absorption through the skin accounted for 64% of water borne contaminants entering the body. Recent research shows that we have underestimated the amount of contaminants absorbed through the skin. This research reveals that ingestion may not be the sole or even primary route of exposure. Besides penetration of contaminants through the skin, the contaminants can adversely affect the skin and hair. Chlorine bonds chemically with proteins in the hair, skin and scalp. As a result: (1) the hair can become rough and brittle and lose its color, (2) the skin can become dry and itchy, and (3) it can aggravate sensitive areas in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Inhaling Chlorine By-Products When Showering Is a Major Threat . . . Evidence clearly shows that contaminants like chloroform and trichloroethylene do serious harm when ingested or absorbed into the body. However, the major threat caused by these water pollutants is far more likely to be as air pollutants. Hot showers can release these dissolved contaminants into the air. The lungs absorb these contaminants, including chlorine, trichloroethylene, chloroform, benzene. They pass from the lungs into the bloodstream. Conclusion . . . While chlorinating public water supplies is perhaps the most efficient way to address the problem of water contamination, it does present a "catch 22" situation. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't. How do we deal with this seemingly impossible situation? It appears that the better part of wisdom would show that chlorine should do its work until it gets to the point of use. At that point we can remove it along with the trihalomethanes and other contaminants with a quality home water filter. Earl Calvert is a freelance writer and lives in Birmingham, AL. As an advocate for clean drinking water, Earl designed his website on drinking water to educate the public water quality issues. For more information, go to http://good-clean-water.com
Look For
MORE RESOURCES: More Lawsuits=More Insurance=Higher Prices: News Article Independent Institute Committee seeks to halt vacation rental requests Evanston RoundTable Maui County Council committee approves bill to phase out thousands of vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Maui panel passes bill curbing vacation rentals to boost housing supply after Lahaina wildfire CBS News Thousands of Colorado vacation units were taken off the rental market in June, but visitors are still booking trips SummitDaily.com Tax the tourists slowboring.com Maui Plan To Phase Out Thousands Of Short-Term Rentals Advances Honolulu Civil Beat The Best Airbnb Alternatives for Luxury Villas, Budget Stays & Everything In Between - Rolling Stone Top Vacation Rentals Near Golf Courses Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Tourism Steady in Okoboji This Summer Northwest Iowa Now Vacation rentals back on council agenda Evanston Now Inside The ‘Out-Of-Control’ Debate Over Axing Maui Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Changes coming to Sarasota's vacation rental ordinance Your Observer This Battle Over Maui Rentals Just Hit A Boiling Point Beat of Hawaii Capital One Travel Adds Vacation Rentals — And You Can Earn 5x Miles on Venture Cards Upgraded Points This Georgia highland cows farm is a family-run, glamping getaway you can rent on AirBNB The Augusta Chronicle Main St. request on hold, but ‘Kitschy 2 BR House’ gets vacation rental OK Evanston RoundTable Maui measure to phase out half of the island's vacation rentals moves forward Hawaii Public Radio Shock Vote: Maui Committee Passes Rental Ban Proposal Beat of Hawaii Restore Zoning to Safeguard Nantucket’s Seasonal Economy Nantucket Current Closing Maui’s Lodging Loophole God's World News Vacation Rental Study in Goleta Tells More About the Neighbors The Santa Barbara Independent Honolulu Hasn't Fined Airbnb, Vrbo for Illegal Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Honolulu Sees Doubling Of Vacation Rental Registrations Under New Rules Honolulu Civil Beat Don Miller | Maui moves to ban vacation rentals two years after Lahaina fires Santa Cruz Sentinel Plan To Convert Maui Vacation Rentals To Long-Term Housing Delayed Honolulu Civil Beat Study: Maui Should Phase Out Vacation Rentals With Caution Honolulu Civil Beat ‘More than doubled’: Jacksonville Beach locals blame vacation rentals for rising home costs Action News Jax Deep Wood Vacation Home Rentals Visit PA A novel idea for Maui’s housing crisis: Using vacation rental profits for residents’ down payments Maui Now Key amendments proposed for vacation rental phase-out bill ahead of Council committee hearing Maui Now Emotions Are High As Maui Considers Phasing Out Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Maui panel passes bill to curb vacation rentals, boost housing after wildfire The Norfolk Daily News Where vacation homes dominate: Top US counties with the highest share of seasonal housing Globe Gazette Maui Council hears another 70 testifiers on vacation rental phase-out bill; still more to come Maui Now Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer Honolulu Civil Beat Maui vacation rental bill continues to draw passionate testimony from both sides Hawaii Public Radio Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Property Owners, Renters Over $1 Million NBC Palm Springs Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Millions; Riverside DA Launches Investigation After Public Outcry NBC Palm Springs Couple who owns Manasota Key vacation rentals welcomes first renters since Hurricanes Helene, Milton FOX 13 Tampa Bay Maui County Council debates future of vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Combatting human trafficking: New training, reporting requirements for hotels, vacation rentals WRAL.com Supreme Court: cities cannot limit vacation rentals based on owner occupancy Idaho Public Television City has no mercy for illegal vacation rental operators Hawaii News Now Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Opinion | Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide The Washington Post Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly Planetizen Uncertain Economy Contributes to Slow Summer Rental Bookings The Vineyard Gazette With housing and economy at stake, Maui County weighs phase-out of 7,000 vacation rentals Hawaii Public Radio Community invited to briefing about proposed registration process for short-term vacation rentals Big Island Now Owners claim Maui residents can’t afford converted vacation rentals, UH study says otherwise Honolulu Star-Advertiser Fire district wins vacation rental assessment lawsuit The Anna Maria Islander Maui Gets $1.6B—Can Vacation Rentals Survive What’s Coming? Beat of Hawaii Hawaiʻi County Council seeks more oversight with passage of vacation rental bill Hawaii Public Radio Vrbo offers last minute deals on vacation rentals Short Term Rentals - News New state law requires vacation rental and hotel managers, other workers have training in human trafficking awareness Island Free Press No More Vacation Rentals In Maui. Here's How The Mayor's Plan To Strip The Island of Short-Term Rental Will Affect The Economy Yahoo Finance Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy AP News Vacation rentals may face new taxes as WA lawmakers eye housing fix The Center Square Maui Vacation Rental Ban Moves Forward Amid Growing Outrage Beat of Hawaii Committee votes 5-0 against couple’s vacation rental request advancing Evanston RoundTable |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Discover Which Fruit and Vegetables Help Relieve Arthritic Pain If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, you know how painful and debilitating it can be. If you haven't walked a mile in those shoes, you can't imagine how frustrating it can be. Beverages Boost Calorie Intake, But Many View Fluids As Calorie-free! Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant if little recognized source of calories in North American diets. Yet many people seem to believe that if a calorie is ingested in fluid form, it's a freebie. Do You Eat Breakfast? It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important part of attaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That Cookie Might Kill You! Chances are you may have had a food product that contained Trans Fatty Acids. What's the danger you ask? I 'm about to share with you just a little of the hidden dangers and certain death that some of the most popular foods you eat can cause. Food for Healthy Nails Nails are a protective horn at the end of our most sensitive extremities: fingers and toes. They can often become injured from accidents or crushing weight such as heavy walking or running. Good Fats and Bad Fats -- Whats The Difference? As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high in fat. And if you've done research on the different types of fats, you probably heard the two big buzz words surrounding fats today--"good fats" and "bad fats. Eating to Gain Mass This is usually the forgotten element of most mass programs. Food. 10 Flaxseed Facts to Improve Your Nutrition Flaxseeds may be the smallest seeds you will find in any health food store, but there is nothing little about their enormous contribution to our overall health. Discovered in 5,000 BC, these little brown seeds were worshiped for their magical properties, such as healing the intestines, skin conditions, improving energy, and overall health. Eating For Success: Breakfast For The Busy Corporate The first place that we cut corners when we are busy or stressed is our eating and in particular our breakfast. The food you eat forms the very building blocks of your body, but most of us have lost sight of the fact that food is fuel and that the purpose of eating is to provide our bodies with the tools they need for energy, functioning, building and maintenance. Substitutes for Butter Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil, from the first pressing, or flaxseed oil. The taste of virgin olive oil is appealing to millions of people around the world, so why not adopt it to your taste?Flaxseed oil is prized for health reasons and not for its taste. Understanding Glyconutrients You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are not alone. Perhaps you have heard a bit about glyconutrients but you don't really know what they are or how they could benefit you. Exposing the Best Source of Protein Myth An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack of time and the need to achieve is often in pursuit of the "best" something or other. These "best" lists tend to improve time efficiency they help people make quick decisions without a lot of research or "trial and error". Alternative Therapies for Acid Reflux Disease Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which affects approximately 5-7% of the population. It occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, a long, thin, muscular tube, which connects the mouth and the stomach. Food We Take Determines Our Character When you take your food next time, take care of the food what you are taking. Because the food you take determines your character. Why Digestive Enzymes Are Vital To Good Health! Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to produce sufficient enzymes for health-enhancing digestion and proper nutrient absorption. Enzyme depletion results in improper digestion and absorption, leading to chronic disorders Malabsorption is the inability of the cells of the body to obtain nutrients from the foods consumed. The Non-Diet Diet Diets don't work. If they did the U. Protein and Endurance Sports Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a low key, setting a steady rhythm and culminate into a crescendo that enthralls the spectator and the athlete. Four Important Nutrients - Vitamin E, Selenium, Sodium and Potassium - For Good Health Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin E lately. In the news last month, the news media was pushing a story that "Vitamin E can cause you to die. What on Earth is an Enzyme? Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything function, by enabling chemical reactions. All living cells contain enzymes. Essential Fatty Acids - Americas Major Dietary Deficiency America's major dietary deficiency - EFA a panacea for good healthToday you cannot so much turn a corner without seeing a sign on a fast food restaurant's window boasting the "Low Carb" menu. You cannot read a magazine without seeing an ad for "Adkins friendly" foods. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2005 |