| A shower head water filter typically contains | | | | practically wiped out. |
| granulated carbon. The most common usage is to | | | | Only illnesses caused by parasitic cysts are still a |
| reduce the water's chlorine content. | | | | problem. |
| Your local treatment facility may use chlorine or | | | | Cysts are resistant to all disinfection methods except |
| chloramines, along with UV light and ozone to kill | | | | boiling and filtering. |
| viruses, bacteria, algae and other illness-causing | | | | Chemical disinfectants cannot penetrate their hard |
| contaminants. The number of different disinfectants a | | | | shells. When you hear about an outbreak of |
| treatment facility uses has a lot to do with the | | | | cryptosporidiosis or a similar waterborne illness, it is |
| source. | | | | not due to a breakdown in the municipality's |
| Above-ground sources typically contain more | | | | disinfection methods. It is due to the resistant nature |
| contaminants than underground sources. The ground | | | | of cryptosporidium cysts. |
| itself provides a great deal of protection. | | | | A shower head water filter will not remove cysts. It |
| A municipality cannot always be picky about the | | | | is important for some people to be careful to avoid |
| source they choose to use. | | | | drinking from a source that might contain cysts. |
| Groundwater is used whenever possible. Deep-water | | | | Although the illness they cause is mild in most cases, |
| wells are drilled to reach this purer source. | | | | it can be deadly to someone that has a weakened |
| But in many areas, rivers, lakes and reservoirs are | | | | immune system. |
| the only freshwater choices available. | | | | The introduction of chlorination and other disinfection |
| In coastal areas, wells are brackish or salty. The salt | | | | methods was a good thing in many ways, doctors |
| can, in some cases, be removed, but if a fresher | | | | started to see an increased incidence of certain kinds |
| above-ground source is available, the municipality will | | | | of cancer. Bladder cancer, in particular, was one |
| usually choose that source. | | | | believed to be related to chlorination. |
| All of those considerations have primarily to do with | | | | A shower head water filter may reduce your risk of |
| drinking. | | | | bladder cancer. As it turns out, it was not chlorination |
| Showering in biologically contaminated water could | | | | itself that was responsible. It is the byproducts |
| cause an infection, but the outbreaks of illnesses | | | | created when chlorine and other disinfectants interact |
| concerning governments the most are a result of | | | | with bacteria that are to blame. |
| consumption. | | | | The byproducts become airborne and are inhaled |
| The shower head water filter has been around for | | | | when people are showering. Studies indicate that |
| decades, although there were few customers. | | | | byproduct blood levels are higher after showering for |
| The filters were generally expensive. Wealthy | | | | 15 minutes than after consumption. |
| celebrities invested in the devices, primarily to protect | | | | Not every shower head water filter is certified to |
| their hair and skin from the damaging effects of | | | | reduce disinfection byproducts. It takes more than |
| chlorine. | | | | granular carbon to do the job. |
| The introduction of chlorine in the US led to dramatic | | | | Check the manufacturer's "product performance |
| decreases in waterborne illnesses. They were | | | | data" to be sure that you and your family are safe. |