What are the danger of chlorinated water?
Many sources of water water in North America are treated with chlorine. Chlorine is added to the water to remove different microorganisms that can cause diseases if they are not treated. However, chlorinated water can also lead to other diseases, including trihalomethane contamination (THM). Currently there is a large debate surrounding the safety of chlorinated water.
trihalomethane is a type of by -product of disinfection that is produced when adding chlorine to the drinking water source. Am, among other things, contains chloroform. The amount of THM that can be found within the water supply varies according to seasonal changes. While during the summer months a large amount of chlorine is added to the water, this amount will decrease during the winter. The reason is that natural organic matter increases when temperatures are warmer.
Because chlorine is added to the water to reduce any type of waste, chlorine levels are increased duter months. In addition, wells and lakes do not contain as much chlorine as rivers and other types of surfacewater. Surface water tends to have a huge amount of organic waste, and therefore chlorine levels are higher in this type of water source.
Some studies have shown that a large amount of THM can increase the risk of human cancer. These studies have revealed that people who rely only on chlorinated water as the main source of drinking for at least 35 years may have a better chance of developing colon cancer or bladder cancer. In addition, THM can also contribute to abortion. A recent study has shown that pregnant women who drink chlorinated water tend to have more abortions than women who do not drink chlorinated water.
While these health risks relate to many people, the benefits of chlorine after drinking water are huge. In fact, most SH studies that the benefits associated with chlorinated water significantly outweigh the possible risk of THM. Chlorinated water prevents formation of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. WithoutChlorine would quickly spread these diseases from household to households.
Although some risk may be associated with chlorinated water, most governments that rely on chlorine to treat drinking water claim that the minimum amount of THM is safe for human consumption. People who are afraid of THM can be able to reduce the amount of THM consumed by the activated carbon filter. Water filters containing carbon have the ability to effectively remove the by -products of chlorine and chlorine. Although these filters help reduce THM levels, it is important that the instructions contained on the filter package are recognized.