Waterfrom the public distribution network is called drinking water, i.e. it is considered safe for human consumption. To do this, it must meet the microbiological, physical, chemical and radioactive criteria established by the public health regulations dictated by the WHO, the European Union and the Directorate-General for Health. However, there are two very important caveats: 1) in the process of disinfecting water with chlorine, disinfection by-products are generated which are toxic – trihalomethanes – and their toxicity, even in low concentrations, can have consequences for human health through accumulation; 2) the number of new chemical products created worldwide has increased dramatically. Currently, it is estimated that 15,000 new substances are registered with CAS(Chemical Abstracts Registration) every day – but these new substances are not covered by any international regulations, as this would be impossible. Whatever their intended purpose, some of them or their by-products will end up in the environment (water, air or soil), so the number and diversity of xenobiotics (artificially synthesized substances that can appear in the environment, contaminating biological systems) has increased exponentially.
Absolutely everything that enters our body will affect our health, both positively and negatively. Water is the main nutrient in the body and in all our cells. What enters with water will either be retained in one of our body’s filters (liver, kidneys and lungs), deposited in a particular organ, or interact directly with our cells, affecting their functions.
From all this it is clear how important it is to filter the water we drink and cook with, in order to ensure that our bodies are safe from undesirable substances carried by the water.
Some of the groups of substances that mains water can contain and which are harmful to our health in the medium or long term are: trihalomethanes (formed by chlorine coming into contact with organic matter in the water); endocrine disruptors (found in plastics and many substances derived from oil); hydrocarbons (seeping into the soil from forest fire zones); pesticides and heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, chromium, mercury, nickel, among others). That said, there is no doubt about the importance of drinking filtered water.
What is Filtered Water?
Filtered water is water that has undergone a process to remove the constituents it contains – whether microbiological, physical, chemical or radioactive – making it cleaner, purified and safe for consumption. Filtering is relevant both for water from the public supply network and for water from private collection systems. There are various filtering systems with different characteristics depending on what you want to remove, namely: sand and other sediments, microplastics, microorganisms, chlorine derivatives, pesticides, heavy metals, etc.
There are various filtration systems. The simplest is mechanical filtration, which uses materials such as compacted cotton or polypropylene fibers to trap small particles suspended in the water. Another well-known method is the use of activated carbon, which helps eliminate chlorine and reduce unpleasant smells and tastes. When you want to reduce water hardness – caused by minerals such as calcium (limestone) – ion exchange is used. The technology known as KDF(Kinetic Degradation Fluxion), less talked about but very effective, manages to retain heavy metals and also hinders the growth of bacteria inside the filter. There is also reverse osmosis, which is the most effective water purification technique, as it uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove smaller chemical impurities that are not removed by other methods. This shows that there are several classes of filtered water.
Benefits of Filtered Water for the Body
The benefits of drinking filtered water are numerous. It’s important to start by understanding that what enters our body is only useful if it’s nutrients that the body needs for its functions, such as: water, vitamins, minerals, plant fibers, proteins and fats, both of which are of good quality. Anything else that can get in is potentially harmful, because it consumes resources to eliminate it, because it can interfere with various organ functions, and it is often retained in certain organs, especially the kidneys, liver and brain. As it is retained, it has a cumulative harmful effect over time, and can cause anything from mild dysregulation to the onset of disease. Although chlorinating mains water kills most microorganisms, filtered water is also an effective protective barrier against these agents.
The benefits of drinking filtered water are innumerable, as opposed to the countless potential health risks of drinking water containing toxic substances, even within the limits established by law. Thus, in the medium or long term, potentially and to varying degrees, some of the following health problems may arise as a result of certain groups of chemicals that may be contained in the water:
Trihalomethanes – kidney and liver toxicity, anti-estrogenic (hormonal) effect and carcinogenic effect (with the potential to cause cancer) – bladder and rectal cancer;
Endocrine disruptors or disrupters – they act like hormones – can disrupt reproductive processes and internal balance, such as: disruption of the menstrual cycle, fertility problems, male feminization, cancer of the reproductive system, among others;
Hydrocarbons – liver and kidney toxicity, neurological alterations, hormonal dysfunctions, immunological effects and carcinogenic effect (leukemias).
Heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, others) – liver and kidney toxicity, neurological changes, osteoporosis, skin changes, cardio-vascular problems and carcinogenic effect.
Pesticides – effects: respiratory, neurological, hormonal (endocrine disruptors), immunological and carcinogenic.
Drinking filtered water, from which most of the substances harmful to health have been removed, not only constitutes a preventive measure against all the disorders and diseases that could result from it, but also contributes to better functioning of the kidneys, liver, digestive system and various systems in general. It is also a lighter and more pleasant-tasting water, both for drinking and for adding a more natural flavor to teas and soups. Many people report feeling more energetic and less “heavy”, a likely consequence of less exposure to harmful substances. There are also visible benefits – skin tends to show improvements in texture and hydration, especially in people sensitive to chlorine, and hair can also become softer and less brittle.
Conclusion
Drinking filtered water is a responsible and safe measure, and one of the most important preventative measures against many health disorders and diseases potentially conditioned by chemicals that unfiltered water contains. It is also a way of choosing more physical well-being and vitality, as it helps the body to function more efficiently.
We all want to be long-lived, in other words, live longer with health and energy, and this is possible if we adopt healthy lifestyle habits, starting with what we take into our mouths. The use of filtered water is therefore a preventive investment in health in the medium and long term. For those seeking well-being in a natural way, starting by taking care of the quality of the water they consume is a smart, logical and highly beneficial step.
Bibliography
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- Gonsioroski, A., Mourikes, V. E., & Flaws, J. A. (2020). Endocrine Disruptors in Water and Their Effects on the Reproductive System. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(6), 2020 March. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21061929
- Rocha S, Domingues VF, Pinho C, Fernandes VC, Delerue-Matos C, Gameiro P, Mansilha C. Occurrence of bisphenol A, estrone, 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol in Portuguese rivers. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2013 Jan; 90(1):73-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0887-1
- Mansilha, C., Melo, A., Ferreira, I. M., Pinho, O., Domingues, V., Pinho, C., & Gameiro, P. (2011). Groundwater from infiltration galleries used for small public water supply systems: Contamination with pesticides and endocrine disruptors. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 87(3), 312–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0337-5
- Mansilha, C., Silva, P., Rocha, S., Gameiro, P., Domingues, V., Pinho, C., & Ferreira, I. M. (2013). Bisphenol A migration from plastic materials: Direct insight of ecotoxicity in Daphnia magna. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20(9), 6007–6018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1614-0
Note
With regard to the growing number of synthetic chemical products, which may contaminate water, soil and air, you may find the following graph interesting (I don’t think they’ve created a more up-to-date one, I couldn’t find it) and the rest of the information.
In the CAS Register (Chemical Abstracts Registration), 100 million chemical substances were registered between 1965 and 2015, with 1,500 being the average number of new chemical substances registered each year. On the planet at that time, it was estimated that around 500 tons of chemicals were produced each year. Of these, less than 10% have been studied for their toxic effects on developing organisms.
By 2025, the register will have grown to 279 million unique chemical substances, including organic and inorganic compounds, polymers, alloys, minerals, proteins, nucleic acids and other biological sequences. Although the exact number may vary, it is estimated that approximately 15,000 new substances are added every day, totaling around 5.5 million per year.
