Home
>
Nutrition
>
The Two Faces of Chlorine

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

car service from Midway Anna ..

In The News:

If you're looking for a fun and free way to create art, here are some new AI tools that can help you make anything from custom music tracks to quick video clips.

The assassination attempt on former President Trump could have been prevented had officials used drone detection technology for security.

Scientists at MIT have developed a neuroprosthetic that allows people with prosthetic legs to control them using their own nervous systems.

Artificial Intelligence protections for interactive entertainment companies like Activision have led video game performers with SAG-AFTRA to strike.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a tech guru's recommendations for how to launch a successful website for your business one step at at time.

SmartyPlants monitors your houseplants' light, humidity, temperature, soil moisture and nutrients and sends the information straight to a cellphone app.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson goes in depth with what actually happens after a data breach, when an unauthorized person gains access to private information.

The U.S. Air Force's newest aircraft is turning heads and raising eyebrows around the world. The XQ-67A is an unmanned aircraft with cutting-edge technology.

Your bank already has a host of sensitive info on you — combine that with your voice on record, which can easily be cloned with AI, and you have a cybercriminal's dream.

From smartphones to "dumbphones": A shift from distraction. Here's what tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson has to say about why some people are making the switch.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: We're witnessing the potential dawn of a new, cleaner era in mining as Hitachi tests the world’s first ultra-large, fully electric mining dump truck.

Elder scams are a prime threat. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals the top cons.

Survue, an AI-powered bicycle safety device, aims to revolutionize cyclist protection. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at the game-changing device.

Kurt the CyberGuy unpacks the best applications to share family photos with loved ones with privacy, security and ease of use for photo sharing.

The future of transportation is suddenly now in San Francisco with self-driving cars. Sleek, autonomous vehicles are traveling through city streets.

What to know and how to protect yourself from a new TikTok hack that has affected high-profile brands and celebrities from CNN to Paris Hilton.

CARMEN, a tabletop robot designed by researchers at the University of California San Diego, can help those with mild cognitive impairment improve their mental skills from their homes.

Here's how to protect yourself from cybercriminals following a massive global IT outage that affected grocery stores, banks, airlines, medical centers and more.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how digital price tags transform retail, offering pros and cons for stores and shoppers.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to categorize open tabs into custom groups for streamlined browsing.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how you can secure your iPhone/iPad: Strong passcode, biometric security and software updates.

Here's how you can take better family pictures by using your iPhone or Android's photo timer, a tripod, editing tools and a good prompt to get everyone to smile naturally.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

An internal investigation by Advance Auto Parts determined over 2 million people were affected by a data breach that exposed names, Social Security numbers and driver's licenses.

The Two Faces of Chlorine

Nutrition