Many communities add chlorine to their water to help destroy dangerous organisms like viruses and bacteria that might cause illness if consumed. Swimming pool facilities add chlorine to their water because of its disinfectant properties.
People began adding chlorine to water as early as the 1800s, when they discovered its disinfecting effects. When water was not cleansed, it was usual for individuals to develop waterborne illnesses including cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The original use of chlorine as a disinfectant served to reduce illness rates and keep city people safe.
We know now that there are other methods for treating bacteria in water, such as using an ultraviolet light (which is commonly used by homeowners with well water). However, chlorine treatment remains the most cost-effective alternative for large-scale treatment, so towns continue to add chlorine to water to kill bacteria. Some localities also utilize chloramine, a “chemical cousin of chorine,” which has its own set of harmful side effects.
Even while diluted chlorine is non-toxic, it can still have negative consequences, as we will detail below. Additionally, chlorine treatment does not ensure that drinking water is free of hazardous germs; some may develop resistance to chlorine treatment.
Consuming chlorine through your tap water can have a variety of negative health consequences. Some of these consequences arise when chlorine reacts to generate trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes (THMs), including chloroform, are formed when combines with small organic particles in water. These chemical compounds have been linked to numerous negative health consequences. The following are some of the potential adverse consequences of chlorine water.
Asthma symptoms:
According to a study, exposure to chlorine in swimming pools is related with higher exercise-induced asthma symptoms in swimmers, even if the swimmers had no previous asthma symptoms and the chlorine levels in the pool were lower than the recommended safe range. When you bathe or shower in chlorinated water, you absorb chlorine via your skin and inhale chlorinated vapor. If you have respiratory issues, breathing in chlorine might make them worse.
Food Allergies:
A recent study looked at the impacts of dichlorophenols, which are utilized in both pesticides and water chlorination. The study discovered that those with the highest dichlorophenol levels in their systems were more likely to develop food allergies. This study focused on dichlorophenols in pesticides, not chlorinated water, however the consequences might be comparable.
Congenital Abnormalities:
A Taiwanese study of nearly 400,000 people discovered that pregnant women who were exposed to trihalomethanes in chlorinated water were more likely to give birth to children with one of three types of birth defects: cleft palates, ventricular septal defects (or holes in the heart), and a lack of brain development.
Bladder and rectal cancer:
A 1995 research study published in Environmental Health Perspectives linked THM byproducts of water chlorination to bladder and rectal cancer, potentially accounting for 8,000 rectal cancer cases and 5,000 instances of bladder cancer in the United States per year. Some following research discovered a minor correlation between chlorine and carcinogenic consequences, while others found no link. More investigation into this issue is required.
Unpleasant taste and smell:
Even if your drinking water has acceptable amounts of chlorine, it might still have an unpleasant taste or odor. When your water tastes or smells awful, you’re less likely to drink it, and drinking too little water might cause dehydration. When your water is unpleasant to drink, you and your family are more prone to choose less healthy beverages, such as sodas, or to buy bottled water, both of which have drawbacks.
How do you remove chlorine from your water?
Carbon is one of the most effective ways to eliminate chlorine from your home’s water and avoid chlorine-related adverse effects. The newest technology enables carbon to successfully bond to chlorine, preventing it from entering your house. Using carbon in a Water Refiner, a whole-house filtration system, and/or a drinking water system will help guarantee that you and your family have access to fresh, clean, chlorine-free water every day.
