Tap-Water....can we trust?Tap-water may contain various types of natural but relatively harmless contaminants such as scaling agents like calcium carbonate in hard water and metal ions such as magnesium and iron, and odoriferous gases such as hydrogen sulfide
Tap water cold be consumed if you are an adult with no special health conditions, and you are not pregnant.However, pregnant women, very young children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and people living with weakened immune systems (because they have HIV/AIDS, had an organ transplant, or are on chemotherapy), can be especially vulnerable to the risks posed by contaminated water.
"It's virtually impossible to make any water -- bottled or tap -- completely free of contaminants," says Daniel Giammar, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Most often, the amounts of chemicals found in Tap-water are minute, but if they do get too high, they can be harmful -- particularly if you're exposed for a long time. For instance, if the pipes in or leading to your home are older than the kids in High School Musical, they may leak lead, copper, or other impurities, which can't be monitored or filtered by your area's water supplier. "Lead typically ends up in water after it's transferred through old pipes that are decaying," explains Gina Solomon, M.D., M.P.H., a senior scientist and physician with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Virtually all municipalities use chlorine to purify water, and that can pose health problems. "Studies have tied high levels of chlorine byproducts to an increased risk of miscarriage," Dr. Solomon says. And there are plenty of potentially harmful chemicals Concerned consumers without the money to spend on home filtration, though, can just rely on good old-fashioned patience. Chlorine and related compounds will make their way out of tap water if the container is simply left uncovered in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
The problem, says Fluoride Action Network (FAN), which is opposed to fluoridation, is that the very water supplies that are treated for dental purposes are also used to make many common food products, from baby formula and cereal to juices, sodas and even fresh produce. And with most toothpastes also adding fluoride, many people are ingesting far more fluoride than they should. The main concern for most people is the discoloration of children’s teeth, there is no cure.Some doctors worry that excessive fluoride may actually be promoting tooth decay rather than preventing it, and harming kids in other ways, particularly as they get older. FAN cites studies showing how low-to-moderate doses of fluoride can lead to eczema, reduced thyroid activity, hyperactivity, IQ deficits, premature puberty and even bone cancer.
The bottom line is that we have invested considerably in highly efficient municipal water delivery systems that bring this precious liquid straight to our kitchen faucets any time we need it. Instead of taking that for granted and relying on bottled water instead, we need to make sure our tap water is clean and safe for all.
Vastly improve the quality of your tap water and the health of your family by getting a highly rated whole house water filter
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