Studies show that water containing chlorine is hazardous to your health. When chlorine is added to water supplies it mixes with other chemicals in the water and and forms compounds that can trigger free radicals and cause a number of health problems.
Many people are concerned about drinking chlorinated water due to these health concerns and they filter their drinking water accordingly or they buy bottled, thinking it is “cleaner”. Yet they overlook one important area of chlorine exposure. The simple truth is that showering/bathing with chlorinated water may be an even bigger concern.
When you shower or wash in chlorinated water the heat from that water opens your pores allowing those chemical compounds to sink into your skin. In addition, breathing in the steaming chlorinated air can affect your lungs and bronchial tubes. Here are just some of the problems that chlorine in your water can cause.
• A higher risk of cancer
• problems with circulation
• lung and breathing problems
• increased asthma attacks
• thyroid problems due to blocked iodine receptors
In addition, to these life threatening problems chlorinated water in your shower or bath can also cause your hair to become rough and brittle and lose color, cause your skin to dry out and flake, and dry out the fluid in your eyes and cause eye irritations. Is it any wonder that our skin is prone to dryness and irritation in the winter, when we are more likely to turn our bathrooms into mini chlorine saunas? No.
While you can avoid drinking chlorinated water by filtering your water via your Brita pitcher, you are probably thinking that there is no way you can avoid that chlorinated water in your bath or shower. However, you couldn’t be more wrong. There are a variety of bath and shower filters on market today that you can use to reduce your risks from chlorinated water.
Benefits Of Chlorine Filters For Showers And Baths
Chlorine filters for showers and baths remove chlorine and other toxins from the water in your shower and bath. The benefits of these filters should be obvious. By filtering the chlorine out, the steam you are inhaling won’t cause irritation and damage to your bronchial tubes or to your lungs. It also means that there won’t be chlorine compounds coming out of your showerhead massager and pounding into your skin and your pores. You are better protected from all the hazards associated with continued chlorine exposure.
In addition, you will be reducing the drying effects of these chemicals on your hair and skin and in the long run end up saving money on all the beauty products you buy to try and mitigate the damage.
You may not be able to prevent the city from adding chlorine to the water supply, but you can help to protect your self from the damage that chlorine causes with a chlorine water filter. Save the chlorine for special occasions like the pool, it has no place in our every day lives.
Great article! One additional comment though. Many US cities also add AMMONIA to the water. It forms compounds called CHLORAMINES. These chloramines must be filtered using a catalytic carbon. Your standard carbon filter isn’t sufficient. As a water quality specialist, I would recommend whole house carbon system (catalylitic if you have chloramines). Whole house units have minimal maintenance and do the whole job, unlike point of use filters like brita or a shower filter. Whole house units shouldn’t cost more than $1500 depending on your existing plumbing.
Good grief. This is scary. It makes me not want to take a bath again.
Or move to the country and get well water and learn how to swim like they did before the modern invention of swimming pools and chlorine and go find a stream or a lake and enjoy nature!
It’s crazy, but I have a Chlorine filter for the kids shower, but they take swim lessons 2x a week at the local indoor pool which of course is full of chlorine. What are the thoughts on swimming?
I swim 3 times a week myself and in the summer more than that so I have no advice in regards to that. I use swimming for my exercise so giving that up might be good for chlorine exposure but bad for my health in other ways. My only advice is that in the summer months you might try to get swim time in at ponds and lakes instead of chlorinated pools.
This worried me too. Have them take a warm shower at home just before leaving. This will open up their pores and fill them with clean water. Less chlorine can be absorbed. Then, rinse with cool water and a kid friendly soap right after getting out of the pool. A warm shower at home again will open the pores and let out the chrorine they did take in.
Some pools are instaling eco friendly filters. Ask your swim club about getting one.
Maybe ask around and see if you can get access to a pool that doesn’t use chlorine? My kids take lessons in a pool that uses alternative methods to clean the pool. UV lights and something else…not remembering at the moment. I love taking the kids home from lessons and not having that chlorine smell!
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