What does your tap water really contain??
“The Kitchen is your lab and food is your best medicine!”
~ Dr Nina
Tap water in the UK is considered to be one of the cleanest in the world, but I’ve looked closer to see what you can find in your glass of tap water.
As the government’s job is to protect us from big health risks like waterborne disease, chlorine is being used in the water treatment process to kill harmful bacteria and to make sure water is germ-free. The levels of chlorine in drinking water are regulated by the government and are supposed to be safe. However, studies have shown that disinfection by-products, most commonly trihalomethanes (THMs), are formed when organic constituents in source water react with chlorine. As a result, the exposure to chlorinated drinking water has been linked to bladder cancer risk. Chlorine can also be absorbed through your skin while bathing which can severely dry skin and hair and cause irritating effects to your eyes and nose.
Limescale is naturally found in most water supplies, but it presents in higher concentrations in areas with hard water. It is made up of calcium and magnesium carbonate and precipitates when water is heated as you can see on the bottom of your kettle, coffee machines etc. Although it is harmless, studies have shown that consumption of large amounts of hard water was associated with a 50% increase of the urinary calcium concentration which can potentially increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
Lead is highly poisonous and may be absorbed into the water from old lead piping. Interestingly, those living in soft water areas are more at risk of lead pollution as limescale build-up inside water mains forms a barrier and blocks lead contamination. Orthophosphates are added to the water to react with the lead, creating a mineral crust inside the pipe preventing lead leaching. There are a lot of complications with this process, and it’s been suggested that orthophosphate treatments can accelerate lead pollution in some cases. Some studies suggest that consuming phosphates at a high level, considering that they are entirely absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, can damage blood vessels, induce aging, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and lead to a higher mortality rate in those with renal disease. Drinking lead contaminated water can result in lead build-up contributing to different health issues such as cardiovascular disorders, neuronal damage, renal injuries, and risk of cancer and diabetes. Infants and children are at a higher risk because lead can have an adverse impact on mental development and be a factor in behavioural problems.
Chloramines are formed when ammonia is added to water that contains free chlorine. They are used as water disinfectants. There is no sufficient data to show if chloramines affect human health. However, there are studies showing that it has a cancerogenic effect in female rats, can increase plasma cholesterol levels and affect thyroid health in pigeons. Several cases have been reported where chloramines caused allergic contact dermatitis. But no epidemiologic studies specific to potential adverse effects of chloramine exposure to human health were carried out. They have shown to increase the amount of dissolved lead in water from lead pipes leading to increased blood lead concentration.
Fluoride is a mineral that is commonly added to drinking water as it is believed that it can prevent tooth decay (this is a controversial topic). Although the amount of fluoride per litter of water is regulated, the amount ingested depends on how much water you are drinking. And therefore, a very large amount of fluoride might be ingested leading to health issues. This can lead to fluorosis affecting tooth enamel and skeletal structures eventually causing calcification of ligaments Potential risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and impaired brain development could be associated with fluoride excess. Additionally, studies have shown that consumption of fluoridated water is associated with higher prevalence of hypothyroidism.
Arsenic is a common drinking water contaminant that is often found in groundwater wells. Drinking-water, crops irrigated with contaminated water and food prepared with contaminated water are the sources of exposure. Additionally, fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, dairy products and cereals can be dietary sources of arsenic. Even at very low concentrations, chronic consumption of arsenic in drinking water has been strongly associated with a variety of cancers and other adverse health effects in humans. Exposure to lower levels can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of “pins and needles” in hands and feet. Ingesting very high levels of arsenic can result in death.
Copper is an essential element for all living organisms, hence small amounts are needed in the body. It is found in rocks, soils, water, food and air. It has many industrial applications and is widely used in electrical wiring, switches, electroplating, plumbing pipes, coins, metal alloys and fireworks. In addition, it is used in the production of pesticides, ceramics and glass and paints. The general population is primarily exposed to copper via food (from the soil) and drinking water (from the copper pipes). Ingesting high levels of copper can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It can also cause blue or green discolouration of the skin and hair and skin and eye irritation. Ingesting higher than recommended amounts of copper can lead to kidney and liver damage. There is very limited data available on whether copper can cause cancer in humans.
Mercury is a naturally occurring metallic element, but much of the mercury found in the environment today arises from past industrial activity. Mercury is a bio accumulative toxin, which means that consuming even small amount of mercury will accumulate to larger more toxic amounts. Human exposure is almost exclusively through consumption of contaminated water, fish and shellfish, and mercury amalgam dental fillings. Mercury is highly toxic to humans. Exposure, even to small amounts, may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. Methylmercury is particularly damaging to developing embryos, which are five to ten times more sensitive than adults.
Pharmaceuticals in drinking water refers to controlled substances that doctors prescribe to humans. Studies have shown that the following drugs can be found in drinking water: antibiotics, antidepressants, contraceptives (oestrogen) and other synthetic hormones, blood thinners, heart medication, and painkillers (acetaminophen and ibuprofen). According to WHO the levels of pharmaceuticals are very low and should not cause any health complications However, some studies subject that the release of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) into the environment may lead endocrine related diseases affecting wildlife and also changing the reproductive health of humans includes declining male fertility, birth defects, breast and testicular cancer.
Herbicides and Pesticides are chemicals used to control weeds and pests. They are known to contaminate drinking water when applied to farmlands, gardens and lawns. The health risks of herbicides and pesticides in drinking water depend on their toxicity, concentration, and exposure. However, the health risk is real as they can bioaccumulate in human cell membranes. Pesticide exposure has been proven to result in immunosuppression, hormone disruption, reduce intelligence, reproductive distortion and cancer. Impacts of pesticide exposure to humans can be categorized into acute health problems and chronic health problems. Chronic health problems encompass neurological effects such as onset Parkinson’s disease, reduce the attention span, memory disturbances, reproductive problems, disrupt infant development, birth defect and cancer. Acute health effects depend on the pesticide toxicity and the most common effects are reduced vision, headaches, salivation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, wheezing, coma and even death. Moderate pesticide poisoning leads to mimic intrinsic asthma, bronchitis and gastroenteritis
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a chemical family of at least 5,000 individual substances. They are sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because of they are resistant to biodegradation. PFAS are wildly used in the manufacture of many domestic products for their useful properties such as non-stick, water repellence and anti-grease. For example, cosmetics, skin creams, car and floor polish, food packaging, baking equipment, frying pans, outdoor clothing and shoes etc. PFAS have shown a wide range of toxic effects including developmental toxicity, carcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hormonal toxicity. They have been associated with elevated risks of cancer, immune responses, metabolic syndromes, developmental issues, and reproductive effects. Additionally, they are known to be an endocrine disruptor which means they have an unhealthy effect on our hormones.
Looking at this long list of potential contaminants I would highly recommend investing in a good water filter. Ideally do your research and find a suitable under sink system which will clear the water from most contaminants. It is a great idea to invest in a shower filer too to reduce absorption of pollutants through the skin.
Some of my favourite filters:
- This filter is on an expensive side, but it is totally worth it if you can afford it. It not only purifies water, but also alkalise it to raise the pH, then naturally ionised it. You don’t want to strip out all the minerals and not replace them! People can ‘dehydrate’ themselves with ‘dead water’.
https://www.freshlysqueezedwatersystems.com/product-page/domestic-reverse-osmosis-ionised-water-filter
- I personally use Coconut Shell Carbon filter, which adsorbs the widest spectrum of chemicals the most efficiently.
Health note: This is not a problem if you or your family have a nut allergy. This carbon filter has been sterilised and acid washed. It is just carbon but activated to remove harmful chemicals from your drinking water.
https://www.wrekinwaterfiltration.co.uk/wrekinwaterfiltration/final.asp?id=1691#scroll
- Another option is a Ceramic filter, which is like a very fine sieve that removes particulate matter and sediment.
- If you are considering a water filter for your shower, this one is very good:
https://berkey-waterfilters.co.uk/products/shower-filter-berkey
Do not forget if you filter removed all minerals, you need to replace them with mineral drops or electrolyte solutions. I will make another blog post on them later.
References:
https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/drinking-water-health-criteria-document-chloramines
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=19&toxid=3#bookmark05
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/arsenic-and-drinking-water
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/contamination/chemicals.html
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mercury-challenges-for-the-water-environment
https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/44630/9789241502085_eng.pdf?sequence=1
