| According to a nationwide survey, more doctors | | | | food we buy at the store, we must remove the |
| smoke Camels than any other cigarette. Its true, | | | | chlorine from the water before we use it. |
| well, it WAS true - back in the 1940's. | | | | There are several ways to accomplish this. |
| Three independent research organizations conducted | | | | 1. Since our largest exposure is when we open the |
| a nationwide poll with doctors, surgeons, and | | | | pores of our body's largest organ, the skin, and |
| specialists in every branch of medicine. 113,597 | | | | shower or bathe, this is a natural place to start. |
| doctors in all participated in this poll. The brand of | | | | When chlorinated water is heated, chlorine moves |
| cigarette the doctors named most often was Camel. | | | | into gas form, and also is present in the steam we |
| Of course this type of advertising disappeared soon | | | | breathe and absorb through our skin and into our |
| afterwards and has (thankfully) not been seen since. | | | | lungs. One 10 minute shower allows your body to |
| But really, it does go to show how far we've come | | | | absorb more chlorine than you would consume |
| from the days when something as harmful as | | | | drinking 8 glasses of tap water. |
| cigarettes was being recommended by health | | | | Adding shower filters to remove the chlorine at point |
| authorities. | | | | of use is a great idea. These are relatively |
| So why bring this up? Well, it appears that we're still | | | | inexpensive and can remove more than 90% of the |
| in that era when it comes to something else - | | | | chlorine right there. As long as you regularly change |
| chlorinated drinking water. Health Canada has released | | | | the filters according to the manufacturer's |
| reports on chlorinated water, and there's just no way | | | | recommendations, you are getting rid of a large |
| that anyone in a good state of mind would suggest | | | | portion of daily chlorine exposure. |
| that drinking, showering, bathing or doing anything | | | | 2. Drinking or eating. This one may be tougher to |
| with chlorine would be beneficial - any more than | | | | avoid unless you have a whole-home or "Point of |
| taking a puff on a cigarette. | | | | Entry" system for removing chlorine from your |
| The analogy goes a step further if you think about | | | | water. Low level exposure can occur when eating |
| exposure. I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that | | | | food that was prepared or washed with chlorinated |
| smoking a single cigarette would give someone | | | | water. Using filtered, reverse-osmosis processed |
| cancer, nor would I suggest health problems would | | | | water to prepare foods is another way to avoid this. |
| result from drinking a single glass of chlorinated tap | | | | Systems are relatively inexpensive and conveniently |
| water, or showering, bathing or inhaling chlorine while | | | | provide water for cleaning, cooking and preparing |
| washing up. | | | | foods. |
| It is, however, generally agreed that smoking with | | | | 3. Washing Dishes. Again, when we're heating up |
| any sort of regularity increases the health risks, and | | | | chlorinated water, we're moving to a situation where |
| at some point, most smokers end up with at least | | | | it is more easily breathed in. This is a tougher place to |
| one symptom resulting from their habit. Likewise, | | | | treat. Really a Point of Entry system is what's called |
| continual chlorine exposure, over months and years, | | | | for here, as connecting drinking water systems to |
| would also seem to increase the health risks. | | | | dishwashers, or using them to wash dishes by hand |
| According to Health Canada*, "...a recent study | | | | would require heating the treated water. A whole |
| showed an increased risk of bladder and possibly | | | | home system that removes chlorine from all the |
| colon cancer in people who drank chlorinated water | | | | water in the home is the most practical way to |
| for 35 years or more." | | | | eliminate this problem. |
| Some of these problems can take years to develop, | | | | 4. Stop using bleach and other harsh chemical |
| and like exposure to anything, some people are more | | | | products for general cleaning. While it's true that |
| susceptible. Some people may develop rashes, skin | | | | bleach is excellent at killing germs, it is not very |
| irritations or eczema. Some people may develop one | | | | friendly to our bodies. If you consider how tightly we |
| of the types of cancer that are now associated with | | | | seal our homes to conserve energy, when bleach and |
| chlorine exposure - some may not. Unfortunately, | | | | other cleaning products get into our home's air, |
| only time will tell which group any of us are in. | | | | there's usually has no place to go except into our |
| One thing is certain, however. These days, people | | | | lungs. There are green products available that work |
| are living longer, so along with increased life | | | | just as well, yet are non-toxic and usually |
| expectancy, comes increased exposure to these | | | | water-based. These are much healthier choices. |
| toxins and their potentially cumulative effects. | | | | As you can see, it isn't difficult to reduce or eliminate |
| Is it hard to avoid chlorine? Not really. The municipal | | | | your exposure to chlorine at home. The first step is |
| water systems do their job of delivering water to us | | | | to arm yourself with knowledge. Do your research, |
| free of germs nearly 100% of the time, by adding | | | | and contact a professional to assist with getting rid |
| chlorine to the system. That gets it to our homes, | | | | of this toxic additive in your home. |
| but from there, just like removing the wrapper from | | | | |