Top 20 Toxins in Water and How We Can Get Rid of Them
Let’s talk about water because, ya know, we all need it to survive.
Unfortunately, water has become one of the most toxic environmental resources in the world.
THE MOST COMMONLY FOUND TOXINS IN WATER SUPPLIES ARE: BACTERIA, VIRUSES, ALUMINUM, AMMONIA, ARSENIC, BARIUM, CADMIUM, CHLORAMINE, CHROMIUM, COPPER, IRON, LEAD, FLUORIDE, NITRATES, MERCURY, PERCHLORATE, PHARMACEUTICALS, RADIUM, URANIUM AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS).
While some of these elements are found naturally in the earth, many of them can be found in our water sources in concentrations that are too high for human consumption. These toxins are entering the water supply via agricultural or industrial run off, biological & radiological spills, citizens dumping old pharmaceuticals down the toilet, and old toxic infrastructure.
Most city water supplies are also treated with chlorine and fluoride in amisguidedattempt to ward off disease. Waterborne viruses and bacteria grow in poorly managed municipal treatment facilities and are passed along directly to residents. Sadly, our local governments lack the funding, resources, & sometimes desire to fix toxic drinking water. I’ll stop there.
Effects Contaminated Water Has on Kiddos
Let’s dig deeper into some of the most common toxins & their potential for disease. It’s important to know what could be inyourwater supply in order to identify the toxins through testing. Then picking the right solution for your home.
FIRST UP IS FLUORIDE.
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in soil, water, food, & even our teeth. For decades many city water facilities have been adding fluoride to the water in the belief that it will prevent tooth decay. However, numerous studies have been performed indicating that the risks from consuming fluoride filled water outweigh the potential benefits, especially for sensitive individuals – such as bottle-fed babies. Fluoride is a knownneurotoxinlinked to lowered IQ; weakened bones, muscles and ligaments; thyroid dysfunction; nervous system dysfunction & cardiovascular dysfunction.
NEXT ON OUR LIST IS CHLORAMINE.
Chloramine is made when ammonia is added to chlorine. Many cities add this to their water supply in an attempt to kill pathogens. Recent studies have shown that water-born pathogens are becoming resistant to chloramine & it may even be adding to the evolution of superbugs. It’s believed that the added chloramine can lead to the production of toxic byproducts caused by the interaction between chlorine and ammonia. Acutely, chlorine toxicity can cause respiratory distress or skin and eye irritation. Systemically and chronically from long term exposures, it can manifest as heart disease; respiratory diseases, from asthma to lung cancer; & cellular damage.
HEAVY METALS & LEAD.
We hear about lead in water more than any other toxin. It’s the metal that has been found in very high concentrations in schools and residential communities all over the country. Much of the lead contamination comes from old lead pipes and water fixtures. As the pipes oxidize and wear down over time, lead leaches into the water supply making it very unsafe for drinking. Luckily, new pipes and water fixtures don’t contain lead. But the infrastructure of most of the water lines in America have not been completely redone in decades. A large portion of the pipes running our drinking water from facilities to our homes still contain lead. Heavy metals, on the other hand, can seep into our drinking water from industrial waste, agricultural waste, & synthetic fertilizers.Adverse health effects of lead or heavy metal poisoning include systemic pain, sleep disruptions, fatigue, numbness in extremities, constipation, memory loss, kidney disfunction, loss of appetite, aggressive behavior, low IQ, hearing loss, & growth and developmental delays. Critically, it can cause seizures, coma, encephalopathy and death.
UP NEXT ARE PESTICIDES & HERBICIDES.
Pesticides & herbicides can get into our water supply from large farms and small home gardens. We spray our foods and yards down in attempts to kill bugs and unwanted weeds. These substances seep into the ground and make their way into massive bodies of water. These products have all kinds of warnings about acute poisoning but we need to remember that our exposure to these products is prominent as they're also in the food that we eat. These toxins build up in our system over time and cause a ton of chaos.Chronic exposure to herbicides and pesticides can cause: cancer, neuromuscular disease, cellular & mitochondrial dysfunction, reproductive dysfunction & disease, birth defects, developmental delays, hepatitis, mental illness, and so much more.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, OR VOCS, IS UP NEXT.
VOCs are chemicals that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility at room temperature. In other words, they are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. There are many types of VOCs. Some are man-made and others are naturally occurring. But they all can affect human health. VOCs are used in many modern products, such as: industrial cleaners, fragrances, paints, adhesives, gasoline additives, and much more. These are the products that have off-gassing for a very long time. Health effects from continuous exposure include: eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination; kidney, liver and central nervous system dysfunction; allergic reactions, vomiting, nausea, & potentially cancer.
LAST ON OUR LIST: PATHOGENS.
Exposure to pathogens in water can spread infectious disease. The most common waterborne pathogens we see are giardia, cryptosporidium, E coli, salmonella, campylobacter, hepatitis A, & Legionella. However, there are literally thousands of different pathogens that can be found in our drinking water. Most cause gastrointestinal distress but they can lead to other complications due to the immune activation.
How to Test Your Water Supply
Alright, so I’ve unloaded some pretty intense information on you. The good news is, we can do something about it.
The first step is finding outwhatyour specific water contains. You can purchase home tests at your local home improvement store or send samples to your local Health Department, state-certified lab, or independent lab for analysis. Keep in mind that if your local water facility adds fluoride or chloramine to the supply, it may not show up on the results because the health department won’t consider it to be a contaminant.
Once you have a good idea of which contaminants are in your water, you’ll want to know how to get them out.
With that said, let’s talk about filtration options.
FIRST UP: CARBON FILTERS.
Refrigerator units & popular pitcher units found in stores use carbon filters. These budget-friendly filters are made of slightly charged activated carbon granules with large surface areas that capture contaminants. Carbon filters can remove organic compounds such as VOCs, pesticides, chloramine, radon, Benzene, herbicides, chloroform, dioxin, and much more. Carbon filtersCANNOT, however, remove heavy metals, minerals including fluoride, or any pathogens smaller than the size of the carbon granule itself. If your water supply has those contaminants, you’ll need a different or secondary filtration unit.
NEXT UP: REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTERS.
This process requires a pressure mechanism to push water through a semipermeable membrane. The water goes through the membrane while contaminants are blocked. This step of the process removes heavy metals, minerals including fluoride, bacteria, and viruses. Most reverse osmosis units also contain a second step of filtration using carbon filters to make sure VOCs, pesticides, herbicides and other toxins are removed as well. Most reverse osmosis systems are decent sized units placed under the kitchen sink and hooked up to the plumbing line. Some can also be hooked up to large tubs of water for use in offices. While reverse osmosis systems will remove all of the potentially harmful toxins and minerals, it may also remove beneficial minerals such as magnesium and calcium. Which is why some include a third step to remineralize the water.
OZONE WATER.
Ozone water is another popular form of water purification. Ozone is an altered form of oxygen. It contains three oxygen atoms instead of two. Many people drink this water because of the potential health benefits. But because adding the third atom makes the oxygen very unstable, you can't buy ozone water in the store and expect great results. The third atom quickly falls off and it becomes regular water again. However, the water will be purified of pathogens. To receive the potential benefits of ozone water, you need to have a machine at home that produces the ozone water and drink it very quickly after it's produced.
Ozone water is an oxidant, which means it has the ability to destroy complex molecules. This includes pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, & fungi. Using ozone is said to be comparable to using chloramine and many proponents are fighting for city water facilities to use it alternatively as it has proven to be more effective and doesn’t produce the toxic by-products.
Many cities in Europe actually do use the ozone method. This concept of water purification has been around for a hundred years. The potential health benefits of drinking ozone water are vast. Not only does it reduce pathogens, but It purifies the blood of microorganisms by rupturing their cell walls. It’s believed to be able to slow the growth of cancer cells, clean the lymphatic system, boost immune function, and bring extra oxygen into the body. It can help bring a balance to the oxidant and antioxidant levels in the system as well. Just like with PH, the body needs balance in all things. Some researchers believe it can be harmful if too much is consumed. Because it’s an oxygen, it will kill good and bad cells but it could also accelerate the aging of cells and shift the pH of cells to the acidic side. Because of this, it’s recommended to only drink ozone water part-time & drink other purified water the rest of the time.
What About Specialty Waters?
FIJI OR SILICA WATER.
The silica in Fiji Water is said to be biocompatible and has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, bind to aluminum in tissues and cells, and help draw it out of the body. There is very little research to support the claims that it can help detox aluminum but just because there is a lack of science does not make it untrue. In this world of holistic recovery, we come across a lot of modalities that absolutely work despite lack of official science. If you decide to give the Fiji protocol a try, keep in mind how you store your bottles. The water is sold in plastic bottles. That plastic can break down overtime and seep into the water. BPA-free does not necessarily mean it's completely free of all toxins. Be sure to store the bottles in a dark cool room or switch it out to a glass container.
IONIZED OR ALKALINE WATER.
Ionized water, also called alkaline water, is another specialty water. An ionizer can be purchased as a standalone product but it’s also another process that’s added onto many high-end reverse osmosis systems. An ionizer utilizes a process meant to boost the alkalinity of water by electrolysis. It will not remove any contaminants, so it should be used in conjunction with another filter. You can also purchase alkaline water in bulk at grocery stores. This process involves moving water into plates that produce negative and positive currents. This essentially separates the water into an acidic section and an alkaline section, with only the alkaline water being kept.
As with ozone water, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the soul consumption of alkaline water. Proponents claim that the body should remain in a state of constant alkalinity to prevent acid-based diseases, such as cancer. Opponents, on the other hand, claim that it is unnatural, dangerous, and can cause mineral imbalances. Any extreme can be harmful, meaning being too alkaline or too acidic can do more harm than good. Life and health are about balance and that includes pH. Our cellular and systemic functions require both acidity and alkalinity. When the body is too alkaline it is in a state called alkalosis, which can cause confusion, lightheadedness, tremors, numbness, muscle spasms, nausea, & vomiting. More importantly, being too alkaline puts the body into a stressful situation as it fights to maintain balance of pH. This disrupts the parasympathetic response required for healing. So, just like ozone water, it should be consumed only part-time.
DISTILLED WATER.
Distilled water is safe to drink but out of those discussed, it may not be the best option. There are many methods of distilling. The most common is when the water is boiled and the steam is captured and condensed back into the water. The process can be repeated several times, each time the process is repeated the water gets cleaner and cleaner. This process removes every possible contaminant but it also removes all of the essential minerals. Leaving it lacking in nutrients and very bland tasting. If you choose to use distilled water, you need to make sure that you and your children are supplementing minerals in other ways.
Okayyyy. I’m going to stop there for today.
You'll notice I didn't recommend one type of filter or specialty water over the others. We all need to be drinking clean water- seriously, that's all I want for you & your kids. Your filtration unit needs to bespecific to your home– so it will be different than the needs of someone else. You can stay on the safe side and get the multi filtration unit if it fits your budget. Otherwise, you need to find out which contaminants are in your own water and pick the right system for you.
Because we all have different cellular needs and deficiencies, even something as simple as water needs to be individualized for your situation. Drink what feels right but make it clean. My hope is that you are empowered to go out there and start researching this topic on your own. You should know which questions to ask, what to look for, and how to make the right choice for your home!
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The Discovery Doc - Dr. CeCe Brooks - Atlanta Holistic NP
