Chlorine - The Silent Threat in our Water

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES AND CHLORINE

People in communities served by municipally treated water are increasingly installing Ultra Violet systems to get rid of its chlorine. Because concerns over potentially damaging health affects of chlorinised tap water over decades have not caused water companies to stop using this poison. So an increasing number of families now safely de-chlorinate their water. Others install them to back up the municipal treatment process. The ultra violet treatment of water is safe, very cheap, natural and completely risk free.

And with good reason -

1. A team from the University of Minnesota questioned 28,237 postmenopausal women in Iowa about their drinking water source, and evaluated chloroform exposure from water surveys. They found that women living in areas which were supplied with water containing high concentrations of chlorine were at "significantly increased risk for colon cancer and total combined cancer" (Source - Am J Public Health, 1997; 87: 1168-76).

2. The permitted safe levels of chlorine in drinking water have been artificially set at around 4 to 5 parts of free chlorine per million worldwide. But chlorine in tap water (a gas which began its history as a deadly weapon in World War One) is now suspected to be a major health problem. And these permitted levels are often exceeded in random tests.

3. In a study published in 1987 by the Journal of National Cancer Institute in the USA it was found that people who drank ordinary chlorinated water had an 80% greater risk of developing bladder cancer.

4. Chlorine In Bleached Flour Contributes to Alloxan Production

Commercial yeasted breads, even the whole-grain varieties, often have other problems. They typically contain flour bleach, which forms alloxan, a compound known to cause diabetes in animals by destroying the beta cells of the pancreas

Source - (USA - Clinical Nutrition Newsletter, Dec. 1982)

Chlorine, Asthma, Allergies and Bowel Problems

Many people in, for example, the United States suffer from asthma, allergies and bowel problems. And in many of these cases the cause, or causes, cannot be found. Back in 1934 a physician, Dr. M. J. Gutmann of Jerusalem, found an article in the 'Journal of Allergy' in which chlorinated water was found to be the direct cause of asthma and functional colitis.

When chlorinated water was completely taken away from the patient and they were given just distilled water, within 3 days both disorders went away and did not reappear. But when the physician put just a small drop of sodium hypochloride back into the distilled drinking water the symptoms of colitis and asthma returned.

Dr. Guttman also relates he had other patients who were affected by even the smallest amounts of chlorine by breaking out with hives. One case was of a woman 28 years old who suffered with hives from childhood. In an effort to get rid of them she experimented with all kinds of diets to locate the offending food. When she tried the recommendation to change her drinking water the hives disappeared within a few days. However, when she tried drinking chlorinated water again the hives would return.

Chlorine - A “Crippler and Killer”


While we can’t blame every disease or health problem on chlorine being put into tap water, we can however, say that chlorine’s long history of use certainly is a major contributor allowing it to be called a “crippler and killer”. As its history reveals its use started as well intentioned and was the technology of its time saving many lives from cholera, typhoid and other infectious and deadly diseases. But that was 156 years ago. This is now the 21st century and we are still using technology from the 19th century.

There are some cities that now recognize that chlorine is a toxic poison and use safer means to disinfect water. For example, because chlorine gas was used as a weapon during the world wars in Europe, and recognizing its deadly nature, many communities there do not use chlorine, but instead use ozone (oxygen) and ultraviolet light to kill harmful microorganisms. Another method used is a sand filtration system such as the one used in Holland.

The main reason why more cities do not use these alternative methods is because of cost. Chlorine is cheap and they would have to spend more money than they are willing to make the necessary changes to their purification systems.

But until the time comes, if ever, when every major city removes chemicals such as chlorine and sodium fluoride from the drinking water people will have to take responsibility and remove it themselves.

Reducing and Eliminating Chlorine from Your Life

Many people have begun to this do this already by either purchasing chlorine free water or by using a filter on their tap at home. However, there are other areas of chlorine exposure.

Showers and Baths

Studies done on chlorine exposure have revealed that up to 2/3rds of it comes from showering and taking a bath with ordinary tap water. That means that we absorb more chlorine when showering or bathing than if we drank 8 glasses of chlorinated water a day ! And that's because when we take a shower or bath we breath chlorine gas called chloroform which goes not only into the lungs but also goes directly into the blood stream, while we absorb the chlorine in the water into the pores of our skin that have been opened by the hot water.

Comments from Others

"Volatile organics can evaporate from water in a shower or bath." from: Is Your Water Safe to Drink? Consumer Reports"

A long, hot shower can be dangerous. The toxic chemicals are inhaled in high concentrations." - Source - 'Bottom Line'; Dr. John Andelman, PhD. Books

"Avoiding contact with chlorinated water is of the utmost importance. This includes bathing water and drinking water. Chlorine kills bacteria, friendly and unfriendly, in the intestines. it can be absorbed through the skin. I recommend installing a shower filter to remove Chlorine." -

Source - 'Patient, Heal Thyself' Jordan S. Rubin, N.MD., PhD.

Asthma and Bronchitis Has Increased Dramatically

In the last 20 years asthma and bronchitis has increased worldwide by around 300%, especially in children. Researchers feel this is due to breathing chlorine gas, or chloroform. Note what Dr. Lance Wallace of the United States Environmental Protection Agency said about this, “ Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated levels of chloroform in nearly every home because of chlorine in the water.”

Chlorine and Dishwashers

Another area of the house that increases the exposure to chlorine is from dishwashers. When the chlorine containing detergents are added to the dishwasher they blend with the organic food matter creating various harmful chlorine compounds that get vented into the air that we breathe.


Chlorine and Swimming Pools


Another area of severe chlorine exposure is swimming pools. Researchers found that the chlorine in the water reacts to the organic matter of the human body such as sweat, urine, blood, feces, mucus, and skin cells producing toxic chlorine by-products called chloramines. Also, chloroform exposure is 70 to 240 times higher in the air over indoor pools than outdoor pools. One hour of swimming in a pool with chlorine showed chloroform concentrations in the swimmers’ blood ranging from 100 to 1,093 parts per billion.

Chlorine and the Skin and Hair

Besides the damaging effects of chlorine internally, it also damages our skin and hair. The chlorine robs the skin and hair of moisture making it less elastic as it breaks down the protein structures that keep them healthy, strong and flexible. Over time the appearance would become less youthful and healthy looking.

Whether you are suffering from a health problem, or even if you enjoy a fairly good level of health and vitality, the removal of chlorine would certainly improve your quality of life.

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