Are Drinking Water Filters Necessary?
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by: ThomasManso
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If you are planning to buy drinking water filters, good for you. Still, some people think that a drinking water filter for their home is an unnecessary and avoidable expense. Actually, filters aren't even expensive anymore, so I don't understand the reasoning behind that belief.
Drinking water filters cost way less than a television or a personal computer. Nonetheless, for some people those articles are considered "necessities". It is very unusual these days to visit a home that doesn't have a TV set and a computer, but it's also unusual to see a drinking water filter in the home or in the kitchen sink.
Scientists and environmental groups warn governments about the dangers of chlorination, but the danger of not chlorinating is just as real. During the Peruvian cholera outbreak in 1991, health experts advised local facilities to use chlorine to kill the cholera pathogen. Local officials in Peru and other countries were resistant, because chlorination by-products or THMs increase the risk of cancer.
A total of 703 cancer cases per year, estimated by Researchers in Canada, have been caused by exposure to THMs. On the other hand, between the months of January and February in Peru in 1991, 10,000 people died from cholera.
Yes, THMs increase the risk of cancer and everyone should have showerhead and drinking water filters to reduce the risk. But, don't petition government agencies to stop chlorinating the water. It just isn't practical.
Of course, chlorine is used nearly everywhere and government agencies try to control the amount of exposure as much as possible, but other disinfection methods are simply not as effective. Buying a point-of-use drinking water filter that removes chlorine and THMs is the only answer.
Water treatment facilities add chlorine, because if not algae will begin to grow in the pipes. Algae will not only affect the taste of water, but also other microorganisms that cause cholera and other waterborne illnesses would begin to thrive in the algae. These are very good reasons why treatment facilities couldn't use carbon filtration to remove the chlorine before the water leaves the facility.
Another recent study found unacceptable the risk to those who swim in chlorinated pools combined with exposure at home from drinking and showering, and that something should be done about it. But, the study failed to recommend that people should at least get showerheads and drinking water filters for their homes.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency now demands that facilities publish a quality report every year. On them, they need to include chlorine and chloramines, along with THMs.
They began to require facilities to do this report after a California study showed that women who drink five or more glasses a day of regular tap water have a higher rate of miscarriage, possibly due to chlorine. Why don't they just suggest that pregnant women get a drinking water filter? A filter is less expensive than prenatal vitamins and it's a reasonable solution that could achieve healthy results right away.
Scientists want you to be aware of the risks and government officials expect you to make your own decisions. It just seems so logical to me, so go ahead you can get the best drinking water filters on the market for less than $125 and showerhead units cost even less. Don't you think your family's health is worth the investment?
About the Author
About the Author: Thomas C. Manso - If you are investigating for a water filter with outstanding value, consider the Aquasana Filters. You will notice softer skin and hair in just a few days by showering and bathing in filtered water.
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