The Importance of Removing
Chlorine from the Water
Federal regulations require chlorine treatment of the water supplied to urban/suburban areas of the United States and Canada.
Chlorine oxidizes lipid contaminants in the water creating free radicals (reactive particles lacking an electron) and oxysterols like cholesterol (formed when lipid and oxygen molecules combine). Excess free radicals and excess oxysterols damage arteries and initiate cancer, among many other kinds of harm.
The American Society of Microbiology reported that water in the U.S. is filled with microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, which pose a growing threat to public health.
How does chlorine in water cause these problems?
It destroys protective acidophilus, which cooperates with the immunity strengthening “friendly” organisms living in the colon where about 60% of our immune cells operate.
Chlorine combines with organic impurities in the water to make trihalomethanes (THMs) or chloramines. The higher the organic matter, the higher the concentrations of these carcinogenic compounds.Studies of pregnant women in areas of California found that women who drank more than five glasses a day of tap water containing over 75 parts per billion of THMs had a 9.5% risk of miscarriage.
In 1992, an industrial chemist showed that chlorinated water alters and destroys unsaturated fatty acids (EFA’s), which are the building blocks of our brains and central nervous systems. When chlorine mixes with oxygen, hypochlorite is created. Hypochlorite is a free radical that can oxidize EFA’s, turning them rancid.
Studies in Belgium have related development of deadly malignant melanoma to consumption of chlorinated water.
Long term risks of consuming chlorinated water include excessive free radical formation which accelerates aging, increases vulnerability to genetic mutation and cancer development, hinders cholesterol metabolism, and promotes hardening of the arteries.
Chlorine is estimated to account for 9% of bladder cancers, and 18% of rectal cancers. Those cancers develop because the bladder and rectum store waste products for periods of time. Chlorinated water is also associated with higher total risk of combined cancers.
Chlorine in treated water can also cause allergic symptoms including skin rash, intestinal symptoms, arthritis, headaches and more.
DCA (dichloroacedic acid) in chlorinated water alters cholesterol metabolism changing HDL (“good”) to LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
Hattersley JG. The Negative Effects of Chlorine. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 2000;15;89-95.
