Taking a nice, long shower may be your first thought when you want to get fresh and clean. Well, think again. Studies show that our bodies absorb more toxic chlorine through the skin from just a 10 minute shower than from drinking 8 glasses of the same water. Due to chlorine being added to our municipal water supply; a hot, steamy shower makes for a highly toxic effect.
The skin is our largest organ with millions of pores that allow for absorption. The heat from the shower naturally opens up pores causing the skin to act like a sponge. The heat from the shower also creates chloroform from the mix of chlorine and your dead skin cells. Chloroform is a known carcinogen.
Chlorine is added to our water supply as a disinfectant. While this effort keeps our tap water disease-free, it can an adverse effect on the health of our bodies. An article in The American Journal of Public Health (May 1984, Vol. 74, No. 5) reported that up to 2/3 of our harmful exposure to chlorine is through skin absorption during showering.
The un-beautifying effects of chlorine include
-
Irritated skin and eyes
-
Dry, brittle hair
-
Sinus conditions
-
Hardened arteries
-
Aggravated asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems
The most effective way to avoid the hazards from your shower is a quick and simple installation of a filter on your shower head. However, not all water filters are created equal. To filter out chlorine, look for NSF/ANSI Standard 46, which means it is third party tested to effectively remove chlorine. Also, refer to the consumer information website WaterFilterComparisons.com to compare the effectiveness and prices of various water filters.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks