Comments on: chlorawhat? http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/ Julia Rietmulder-Stone's blog | ramblings about poetry, politics, & Harrisburg Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:19:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: D.C. Libertarian http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/comment-page-1/#comment-10779 D.C. Libertarian Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:01:05 +0000 http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/#comment-10779 I figure I'll probably die of liver failure before the chemicals in the water kill me. As far as your showering concerns, there actually are filters for that as well. Here's a sample of some that are available: http://www.healthgoods.com/Shopping/Water_Quality_Products/Shower_Water_Filter_Systems.asp. I figure I’ll probably die of liver failure before the chemicals in the water kill me. As far as your showering concerns, there actually are filters for that as well. Here’s a sample of some that are available: http://www.healthgoods.com/Shopping/Water_Quality_Products/Shower_Water_Filter_Systems.asp.

]]> By: Julia http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/comment-page-1/#comment-10737 Julia Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:55:28 +0000 http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/#comment-10737 We do have a filter for our drinking water -- although it may just be charcoal, rather than carbon. The more I read, though, the more worried I get about the water I'm showering and bathing in. At least some sources say that's at least as big a deal, if not bigger. Kids who do a lot of swimming in chlorinated water, for example, are more likely to have asthma. Additionally, much of the hysteria surrounding chloramine has to do with skin rashes and respiratory problems that have coincided with the introduction of chloramine. So yes, I agree, I'd probably rather be poisoned slowly than die violently of a bacterial infection. Neither sounds all that great to me. We do have a filter for our drinking water — although it may just be charcoal, rather than carbon. The more I read, though, the more worried I get about the water I’m showering and bathing in. At least some sources say that’s at least as big a deal, if not bigger. Kids who do a lot of swimming in chlorinated water, for example, are more likely to have asthma. Additionally, much of the hysteria surrounding chloramine has to do with skin rashes and respiratory problems that have coincided with the introduction of chloramine.

So yes, I agree, I’d probably rather be poisoned slowly than die violently of a bacterial infection. Neither sounds all that great to me.

]]> By: D.C. Libertarian http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/comment-page-1/#comment-10735 D.C. Libertarian Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:19:23 +0000 http://www.sunsetchaser.net/2007/08/chlorawhat/#comment-10735 Yes, for every chemical added to water -- fluoride, chlorine, chloramine or whatever -- there are probably 100 or more groups out there warning us about the doom that most certainly will befall us if we dare to drink it. I'm not saying drinking these chemicals is a good thing, but the human body generally can tolerate them at low levels. And drinking water treated with these chemicals probably is better than drinking water contaminated with giardia and <i>E. coli</i>. Personally, if you have the means, I wouldn't recommend drinking water straight from the tap anyway, especially if you live in an area known to have less than desirable water. Either get some kind of a filtration system or just go bottled. But even if you don't have the means (or desire) to take such actions, don't panic -- you'll probably live through the day if you take a drink. Yes, for every chemical added to water — fluoride, chlorine, chloramine or whatever — there are probably 100 or more groups out there warning us about the doom that most certainly will befall us if we dare to drink it. I’m not saying drinking these chemicals is a good thing, but the human body generally can tolerate them at low levels. And drinking water treated with these chemicals probably is better than drinking water contaminated with giardia and E. coli.

Personally, if you have the means, I wouldn’t recommend drinking water straight from the tap anyway, especially if you live in an area known to have less than desirable water. Either get some kind of a filtration system or just go bottled. But even if you don’t have the means (or desire) to take such actions, don’t panic — you’ll probably live through the day if you take a drink.

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