Chlorine Is Killing Us!
A major cause of atherosclerosis and its resulting heart attacks and strokes is none other than the ubiquitous chlorine in our drinking water. (1) Studies indicate that this suspect chemical can also be inhaled and absorbed through the skin during showering and bathing. Drinking chlorinated water may double the risk of bladder cancer, which strikes 54,000 people a year according to US News And World Report.
Chlorine is responsible for the eradication of many water-borne illnesses. However, growing evidence suggests chlorine may be detrimental to our health. If we look back to statistics from the 1900’s, before chlorination, 35,000 people died from typhoid in the United States and 68,000 from heart disease. After WWI, chlorine was used to poison germs in our water. A few decades later in1955, Typhoid killed less then 50 people and heart disease claimed the lives of 536,000 people.(2) Today heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in this country.
Dr. Jim Prices discusses the adverse effects that chlorine has on vitamin E in his book “CORONARIES/CHOLESTEROL/CHLORINE”. Chlorine actually destroys vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that destroys free radicals. These free radicals promote tissue breakdown and tumor growth. Dr. Price also emphasizes that a lack of Vitamin E constricts arterial walls, weakens capillaries and contributes to an increase in blood pressure and cardiac dysfunction.
Scientists from Oakridge National Laboratories studied 1500 residents in various towns in Wisconsin and found a link between chlorine and high cholesterol . Harvard University and The University of Wisconsin found that disinfection by-products of chlorine might be responsible for 10,700 rectal and bladder cancers per year. In 1987 the JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE reported a study showing that drinking of chlorinated water can increase bladder cancers by 80%. This increase is a result of chlorine by products combining with organic material in or out of the body. Other studies are linking chlorine to colon and breast cancers.
If this is not frightening enough there is more bad news. Those nice hot showers we take may also play a detrimental role in our health. Taking a long hot shower can be dangerous. The toxic chemicals are inhaled in high concentrations(3). Conservative calculations indicate that inhalation exposure can be as significant as exposure from drinking water; that is, one can be exposed to just as much chlorine by inhalation as through dermal absorption.(4)
If chlorine is used as a disinfectant in our pools and water supply, couldn’t it be destroying our normal healthy bacteria in our intestines? This could result in a Vitamin B12 deficiency. This is the most common vitamin deficiency in the U.S. Folate , also known as vitamin B12 is used to make DNA, RNA and red blood cells. It is also necessary for a growing fetus. Folic acid is essential in building the myelin sheath that covers nerves.
Many consumers buy bottled water hoping to avoid all these problems. However, there are no guarantees on bottled water either. The EPA does not regulate bottled water. The FDA regulates bottled water that is packaged in one state and shipped to another. Otherwise it's up to the state to regulate . That does not mean the water is free of contaminants. The EPA conducted a pilot study of 25 randomly selected bottling plants that make 50 brands of bottled water. In every facility it found that there were serious sanitary deficiencies. At the time of bottling, 1 in 10 bottles contained pathogenic contaminants. When the water was stored for 63 days all of the water showed the presence of large amount of pathogenic bacteria. (2)
Why do we need to drink lots of water? Humans are composed mainly of water. Adequate water intake is even more important with aging. The strong sense of thirst diminishes when we get older and our collagen matrix is less able to hold onto water. Water has many functions in the body. It is needed for digestion, absorption, excretion, to transport nutrients, dilute toxic wastes, as a cushioning for bones and joints, and is the base of all blood and body secretions. It also keeps the skin smooth and soft and helps to regulate body temperature.
Ultimately it is our responsibility to take control of the water coming into our homes. There are many home devices on the market that can help improve the quality of the water we consume. For the shower, a simple screw-on filter will eliminate the chlorine and add magnetic energy to the water. For your drinking and cooking, a portable water system that screws on your sink delivers mild alkaline water with minerals. It has an ultrafiltration component, the same material used in kidney dialysis machines that filters down to 0.1 microns. It wastes no water and uses no electricity. I feel compelled to share this information with others.
Information provided as a complimentary FYI