Protect Your Drinking Water

By Dr. Roy M. Speiser V.P., CWR Environmental

We live in a toxic world where exposure to dangerous contaminants every day, in our air and water, cumulatively affect our health. Many disorders originate early in life. For example, when pregnant women ingest contaminated water, and food, the toxicity negatively affects the health of the fetus— and forms an early basis for an unhealthy life.

A recent analysis of government statistics, by researchers at the British charity “Children with Cancer UK”, found that the cancer rate in young people has risen 40 percent in 16 years. Dr. Denis Henshaw, a professor at Bristol University, stated, “If one looks at cancers, such as childhood leukemia, there is no doubt that environmental factors are playing a big role.”¹

For decades toxic-waste sites, and irresponsible industries, have discharged chemicals, and heavy metals that are seeping into our drinking water supplies. Additionally, agricultural run-off of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer plus pharmaceutical dumping by hospitals and drug companies have contributed to hundreds of toxic contaminants that continually permeate our drinking water supply. An ongoing Associated Press investigation, researching pharmaceuticals in drinking water, detected 46 different medications in the US drinking-water supply. This affects over 41 million people who are drinking water contaminated with small quantities of pharmaceuticals— including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, sex hormones and sunscreen agents— plus many more pharmaceuticals. Even though they are present in trace amounts, scientists are concerned that ingestion over a period of decades will have significant health consequences, especially on high-risk individuals. ²

Many other scientific studies have documented the negative health impacts associated with consuming toxic contaminants, such as chlorine and chloramine by-products, fluoride and lead. Chlorine by-products such as THMs are listed as Cancer Group B carcinogens by the EPA.³ In addition, human studies have reported associations between THMs and bladder and colon cancer, miscarriage, birth defects and low birth weight.⁴

Flint Michigan was the tip of the iceberg that focused attention on lead— which is commonly found in drinking water. According to a recent National Resource Defense Council study, elevated lead levels have been found in over 5,000 water systems, affecting 18 million people in the US. Over 3.9 million of these people are drinking water containing very high levels of lead, over 15 parts per billion— and that is in violation of the Federal Lead Rule.⁵

Lead is a neurotoxin and millions of children have been drinking water containing lead for years. Chronic lead ingestion can cause loss of memory, elevated blood pressure and the reduction of fertility levels— and has been determined to be a probable cancer-causing agent. ⁶

Unfortunately, when you turn on your tap, the water you are drinking is not clean, healthy water— it’s a blend of toxic contaminants. By combining all the toxic waste that contaminates our drinking water sources— plus chemicals that are added at the water treatment plants, including aluminum, chlorine and fluoride— the unpleasant result is tap water that can only be described as “toxic soup”.

In an attempt to drink clean water, millions of consumers are buying filters that are entry-level, or minimal, filters. These devices simply don’t have the capability to remove the whole range of toxic contaminants found in drinking water. At best, low level filters reduce small amounts of chlorine and lead, but they don’t remove fluoride, chloramine, pharmaceuticals, parasites and heavy metals— commonly found in drinking water. Also, they do not last long. Most small filters are only tested for a 100 gallons-or-less of water use, however, an average family consumes two to three gallons of water a day. That means that these small filters do not supply enough filtered water to last more than a few weeks. The best way to combat the consumption of “toxic soup” is by relying on larger, more powerful filters. 

References:

1. Childrens Cancer and Leukemia Group, July 9, 2016 “Is Modern Life Really Killing Our Children”.

Analysis of eleven scientific studies

2. Associated Press Investigation: Pharmaceuticals Found in Drinking Water. March 10, 2008

Jeff Donn et al.

3. USEPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection

By Products Rule, Final Rule. Federal Register. 2006; 71:2

4. of Environmental Conservation, Nefoundland Canada, web site.

www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/faq/thm_facts.html#7

5. National Resource Defense Council, June 28, 2016. “What’s in Your Water”, Erik D. Olson
6. S. Dept. Health and Human Services (2007) Toxicological profile for lead.