| To protect people from ingesting contaminated | | | | contains such carcinogens as chloroforms, |
| water filled with harmful bacteria and other | | | | bischlorthane, etc. Lab animals that were exposed to |
| microorganisms, chlorine dioxide is added to drinking | | | | high levels of THM's have an increased risk of cancer. |
| water by water supply companies, as chlorine dioxide | | | | Recent studies found a link between cancer and |
| is said to be very effective in reducing the risk of | | | | chlorine, showing an increased risk of bladder and |
| water waterborne diseases. People who have no | | | | possibly colon cancer in people who drank chlorinated |
| access to the public water supply, however, rely on | | | | water for at least 35 years. |
| water purification methods such as purification | | | | A study in California found that pregnant woman |
| tablets, or home water purification or camping water | | | | who drank large amounts of water containing high |
| filter systems. | | | | THMs had an increased risk of miscarriage, though |
| In more than a century, the addition of chlorine has | | | | this study does not prove the link between |
| greatly improved the safety of the drinking water | | | | miscarriage and high level of THM. However, this only |
| supply in many parts of the world. And to this day, | | | | proved the need for further investigation and |
| chlorine or chlorine dioxide has been the most | | | | research regarding this area to confirm the possible |
| commonly used drinking water disinfectant and the | | | | risk on pregnant women. |
| perfect solution in ensuring that the water you drink | | | | According to the Environmental Protection Agency |
| is free of microorganisms that can cause serious and | | | | (EPA), the scientific data shows that the benefits of |
| life-threatening diseases such as typhoid fever and | | | | chlorinating water far outweigh the risks associated |
| cholera. But the question is, will drinking water | | | | with THM's and other byproducts. It is not whether |
| containing chlorine be really safe to drink? | | | | THM's are carcinogenic, but rather, whether the |
| Numerous concerns still arise with regards to the | | | | average person is ingesting enough THM's through |
| effects of ingesting chlorine-filled water to our health. | | | | drinking chlorinated water for THM's to be considered |
| An experiment was conducted using chlorine in the | | | | a risk. |
| drinking water of chickens. The result was that 95% | | | | Water is very important in the body that it is |
| of the chickens given chlorine-laced distilled water | | | | advisable to drink plenty of it, but is also important to |
| developed atherosclerosis within a few months. It | | | | make sure that the water you drink is safe. There |
| was then concluded by Dr. Joseph Price, M.D., author | | | | are actually different ways to eliminate THM's. You |
| of the book published in the 60's entitled Coronaries | | | | can reduce the said byproduct by boiling your water, |
| Cholesterol, that the primary and essential cause of | | | | putting the water in a jug after boiling, and letting it |
| atherosclerosis is chlorine. | | | | sit in the refrigerator overnight or aerating drinking |
| Chlorine is also linked to the development of cancer. | | | | water in a blender. Home water filtration or the use |
| All chemical disinfectants have byproducts that can | | | | of a camping water filter is also one of the most |
| definitely affect your health. The byproduct of | | | | effective methods, especially with the use of carbon |
| chlorine, trihalomethanes (THM's) or haloforms, | | | | and ceramic filters. |