Chlorine is used almost universally in the treatment of public drinking water because of its toxic effect on harmful bacteria and other waterborne, disease-causing organisms. The benefits of using chlorine as a sanitizing agent are obvious. However, this water treatment agent has a dark side.         

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows it may actually pose greater long-term dangers than those for which it was used to eliminate. 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. The very young, the very old, and people with health problems are at an increased risk from the health effects of chlorine exposure. 

Scientific studies have linked chlorine and chlorination by-products to:
• Various cancers
• Heart disease
• Hardening of the arteries
• Anemia
• High blood pressure
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Other respiratory problems, skin and sinus problems
• Increased risk for bladder and rectal cancers

Chlorine bonds chemically with proteins in the hair, skin and scalp. This causes:
• Hair to become rough and brittle and lose its color
• Skin to become dry and itchy
• Sensitive areas, such as the eyes, nose, throat and lungs to become aggravated

During a shower, the skin pores open, allowing rapid absorption of chlorine. Also, since chlorine and other chemicals vaporize at lower temperatures and faster than water, the steam inhaled during a shower has highly concentrated levels of chlorine vapors – up to 20 times more concentrated. When chemicals are inhaled into our lungs, they enter directly into our bloodstream and can have a magnified effect since they are not ingested which allows it to be partially filtered by our liver and kidneys. A recent study publish in the American Journal of Public Health documented the link between chlorine and breast, colon and bladder cancer and stated that “2/3’s of the harmful exposure is from skin absorption and inhalation while showering…” The body is likely to absorb 600-1000% more chlorine in a quick 10 minute bath than by drinking eight 8 oz glasses of water daily.

The U.S. EPA states that “Due to chlorine and showering, there is an elevated level of chloroform gas in virtually every home in America.” Many studies have linked chloroform gas to childhood asthma and again, reported that most of the risks are associated with showering in chlorinated water. The University of Pittsburgh found that absorption through the skin accounted for 65% of contaminants entering the body.

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.

Solutions and Benefits

Solutions:
 
The chlorine problem: It appears that chlorine should be allowed to do its work until it gets to the point of being used or consumed. Then it is up to the homeowner to remove it along with the trihalomethanes and contaminants with a quality home water filtration system. Everything in the home is affected by the condition of water. It is a homeowners protection policy against hard water damage.

The reverse osmosis process is by far the best choice, removing dissolved solids and pollutants, thus creating the purest water for drinking and cooking.

A QUALITY water filtration system is the only appliance you will EVER purchase that will actually pay for itself in 2-4 years. It will greatly reduce hardness damage, reduce soap usage and reduce usage of detergents and cleaning products. Then there is the continued savings year after year thereafter. The BEST purified water can be produced through your own water system for less than 3 cents per gallon.

Distilled water is also purified, but a distiller continuously boils water, using electricity and generating lots of heat – something not needed in Florida. Distilled water has a flat taste to many people because the boiling process removes the oxygen.

Benefits:

Cleaning:
Conditioned water can act as a part-time housekeeper. An Ohio State University study shows at least 80 hours of housework per year (two 40-hour weeks!) can be saved with soft conditioned water.

Taste:
Coffee, tea, juices and other foods taste clean and refreshing.
Cooked vegetables taste better and are more tender.

Usage:
• Up to 25% less ingredients to make coffee, tea, juices and other beverages when using conditioned water. Vegetables will cook in less time, using less electric or gas.
• Reduced need for hand lotions, face and cleansing creams, moisturizers, and special soaps.
• 50-80% reduction in soap and soap product usage.
• Clothing and towels will look newer, brighter and fluffier and last at least 25% longer.

Shower filtration:
• Softer and shinier hair
• Cleaner feeling skin
• Fewer allergic rashes to those with skin sensitivities