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If the reports about drinking water safety are true, then there are many potential health problems that you might be unaware of. It seems that what flows through our drinking water faucets is contaminated with a variety of chemicals, metallic ions and even prescription drugs. But, that’s not even the whole story. In order to ensure drinking water safety for millions of people around the world, health groups such as the WHO and the CDC recommend the use of chlorine to kill bacteria and other microscopic organisms that, if left unchecked, can cause tens of thousands of deaths in a very short time. The need to disinfect is understandable, but in recent years, we have learned that the process releases toxins, some of which are known as trihalomethanes or THMs. Exposure to THMs can occur through drinking water faucets and showerheads, but also when using unfiltered water for cooking. The toxins become gaseous vapors. One vapor that is released is chloroform gas. Researchers believe that there is a measurable level of the gas in most homes in the United States caused by showering in chlorinated water. So, not only is it drinking water safety that we have to be concerned with, but the safety of the air in our homes, as well. THM exposure is hazardous in several ways. It increases the risk of colorectal and bladder cancer. Estimates vary, but when you take all of the research into consideration, a country may have thousands of new cases per year that can be traced to THMs. A person who swims in chlorinated pools has an even higher risk. One recent study indicates that the risk to swimmers combined with the overall individual risk is “unacceptable”. Personally, I think that that any risk is unacceptable. Especially since, all that I have to do is install the right purification system on my drinking water faucets and my shower heads to reduce my risk and that of my family’s back down to nothing. Of course, there are other things in the world that cause cancer. And, many people will have cancer in their lifetimes, regardless of the efforts that they make towards prevention. But, shouldn’t we take every precaution that we can, anyway. Other concerns over drinking water safety have to do with the combination of different chemical contaminants and the effect that those things can have when combined. For example, one of the newest findings concerned the number and varieties of pharmaceutical traces that are present in public water supplies. Researchers around the world have been looking at what these traces, along with other known chemicals, such as chlorine, will do to human cell lines. Because, it is on a cellular level that the damage begins, which eventually leads to cancer and birth defects. When they combine the different contaminants that flow unchecked through drinking water faucets, they see DNA damage and cellular death. Drinking water safety is an issue for consideration. Once you consider the risks, the price you pay for taking the right precautions seems very small, indeed. Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Water Purification Systems. Visit his website now at : http://www.water-safe-and-pure.com to discover which Water Purification Systems Gordon recommends after far ranging comparisons.
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