Chlorine treatments in our tap water

Chlorine Dangers and Benefits

Chlorine treatment in our public water is designed to kill waterborne bacterial dangers such as cholera and typhoid fever, among others. While it does a very good job killing these bacterial threats, chlorine also poses as much of a threat as it protects against.

One of the problems chlorine treatment poses is that while it kills bacteria that causes specific waterborne diseases, there are approximately 2,000 other chemicals and substances the EPA guards against with its Safe Water Act, that chlorine does nothing for. So we are still exposed to many toxins in our water supply that chlorine wont help.

An additional problem with chlorine treatment is due to the excessive cost. In 1996, Andover, Massachusetts changed there treatment method to a new ozone treatment process that has been just as effective, but also reduced chemical costs as well as the amount of electricity used.

 Killing your digestive system

Besides killing waterborne bacteria in our water supply, when chlorine is ingested into the body it also kills the bacteria in our intestines. “Friendly” bacteria in our intestinal system help in the digestion of food and protects against other harmful pathogens. These bacteria are also necessary in the manufacture of vitamin B12, vitamin K, and other necessary nutrients made by the body.

Chronic skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, seborrhea and eczema have been shown to improve by eliminating chlorinated water and supplementing the diet with lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus.

Chlorinated water has been implicated in plaque buildup in the arteries leading to atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke, but research into this area has been sporadic and incomplete.

Chlorine has also been implicated in numerous cases of cancer of the bladder and rectal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, to also contributing to breast cancer and ovarian cancer among others.

How does chlorine cause problems?

Besides killing the good bacteria in our intestinal system, chlorine contributes to building free radicals and destroying vitamin E that counteracts the free radicals. It also destroys the protective acidophilus, create chloramines (carcinogens) and oxidizes essential fatty acids turning the rancid and making them useless.

Skin absorption

Chlorine can also be absorbed into the body through the skin. This can occur when taking a shower or swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool. Chlorinated water in dishwashers can also combine with detergents and other chemicals, and then volatilized into the air around the dishwasher.

Treatment

There are other water treatment systems available which include ozone treatment and hydrogen peroxide. These systems are cheaper than chlorine treatment and produces byproducts of pure oxygen and hydrogen. Home treatment would include using a water filter system that can range from an all-house reverse-osmosis water purifier to carbon block filters to individual tap filters. Prices depend on the type of filter used and quality and can range from $35 to $650. What you choose may depend on how much you wish to control. Individually probiotics and supplements can help correct some of the damage caused by the chlorine.

Discuss this with your health care professional to determine what nutrients are needed and what quantity. Any further questions should be discussed with your health care professional.