| What are the dangers of drinking reverse osmosis | | | | allowing the chemicals to pass. |
| water? Danger might seem like too harsh a word. | | | | The risk of THM exposure has been studied by |
| But, there are real problems with this kind of | | | | scientists from around the world, including those that |
| disinfection system. The danger to the individual, to | | | | work for the EPA. Some scientists say that the risk |
| the environment, and to the rest of the world is real, | | | | assessment made by the EPA has been greatly |
| profound and disturbing. | | | | underestimated. |
| Reverse osmosis purification systems were originally | | | | One of the dangers of drinking reverse osmosis |
| created for large scale treatment facilities, mobile | | | | water has to do with the assumption that it is safe, |
| army units and the food industry. Over the years, | | | | even though it will still contain THMs. The risk of THM |
| they have attempted to attract homeowners to the | | | | exposure is cancer. The exposure occurs when we |
| virtues of purifying their tap-water. | | | | drink or shower in waters containing the chemicals; |
| Some people look for an RO unit, because they have | | | | the more exposure, the greater the risk, according |
| a need to protect themselves from cysts. Cysts are | | | | to scientists. |
| microscopic organisms that cause an illness, similar to | | | | From an environmental standpoint, the dangers of |
| food poisoning. While most people can shake it off in | | | | drinking reverse osmosis water in the home have to |
| a few days or a week, people with poorly functioning | | | | do with the amount of wastewater created by the |
| immune systems or those that are being treated for | | | | units. Industrial sized units are able to reduce the |
| cancer could die from the illness. | | | | amount of wastewater by increasing the amount of |
| Reverse osmosis is only one method that is | | | | pressure. It is not possible to do that with the small |
| recommended by the EPA for cyst removal. They | | | | units designed for home use. |
| advise people that the threat of cysts is real and | | | | Thinking globally, the wastewater has an impact on |
| that they may be present in your supply at any time, | | | | our freshwater resources. The higher concentration |
| without warning. | | | | of contaminants present in the wastewater means |
| If you continue reading the EPA advisory, you will | | | | that it cannot be used for other purposes. |
| see that any system that is certified to filter down | | | | A better alternative is to install a system that makes |
| to one micron or below is suitable for cyst removal. | | | | use of carbon to trap chemical contaminants, ion |
| Therefore, you can avoid the dangers of drinking | | | | exchange to trap lead particles, and a submicron filter |
| reverse osmosis water and still get effective cyst | | | | to remove harmful cysts. A system with all of those |
| reduction. | | | | steps is actually more affordable than home reverse |
| Cysts and lead are a few of the compounds that can | | | | osmosis units. |
| be removed by an RO unit. Chemicals, such as | | | | Those are actually just a few of the dangers of |
| chlorine and THMS, are not removed by the porous | | | | drinking reverse osmosis water. But, it's all that we |
| membranes. It is not possible for the membranes to | | | | have time for in this article. |
| allow molecules of water through without also | | | | |