BKC Solutions Corner

Is it possible that chlorine, the old stand-by we trust to keep our water safe, is actually more dangerous than the germs it kills? It is important to make public swimming facilities safe. But is the chlorine water safe to drink?

Americans get 75% of the their water from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Such water is not safe as is and chlorine is the trusted chemical to kill the bacteria that may harm us. However, it is both expensive and not 100% effective in removing harmful parasites.

Dr. N.W. Walker, D.S. states, “Chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of the modern times. While it prevented epidemics of one disease, it was creating another. Two decades ago, after the start of chlorinating our drinking water in 1904, the present epidemic of the heart trouble, cancer and senility began.” Is there a correlation?

This quote is from a medical doctor, Dr. J.M. Price: “Cancer risks among people drinking chlorinated water are 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine.” This is another sobering statement, worthy of action to protect ourselves and our families. The chlorine can enter the body various ways, including drinking and through the skin. Consider the fact that the hot chlorinated water of a shower can actually introduce more chlorine into the body than drinking the water! That is the subject of another article.

Scientific studies have linked chlorine and chlorination by-products to cancer of the digestive and excretory system in the bladder, liver, rectum, and colon. Dr. Riddle, Ph.D. stated, “Each day in America, about 30 cases of rectal cancer may be associated with THMs (chlorination by-products) in drinking water.”

The circulatory system is also adversely affected by chlorine. Research indicates it can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, anemia, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and aggravate allergic reactions.

There is also evidence showing that chlorine can destroy protein in our body and cause adverse effects on skin and hair. The presence of chlorine in the water may also contribute to the formation of chloramines in the water, which can cause taste and odor problems.

Since chlorine is required by public health regulations to be present in all public drinking water supplies, it is up to the individual to remove it at the point-of-use in the home. An effective shower filter, like the Berkey Shower Filter, and some activated charcoal water filters, like the Royal Berkey, claim to be able to remove all chlorine to “below detectable limits.” These pollutants include Carbon Tetrachloride, Chlorobenzene, Chloroform, Dichlorobenzene, and several others. There is no need to wait until further research has determined the full list of health problems connected with chlorine in drinking water. It is possible to remove it at home and protect yourself and your family from these dangers now.