The causes of water contamination are numerous and range from agricultural runoff to improper use of household chemicals and everything in between. While the standard use in our society of over 75,000 different chemical compounds has offered added convenience and productivity in our lives, it has also come at a tremendous price: Drastic increases in degenerative diseases.
In the early 1900s, before chlorine, pesticides, herbicides and the tens of thousands of other chemicals that we are exposed to, the average person had a 1 in 50 chance of getting cancer; today 1 in 3 can expect to get cancer in their lifetime, one out of every 2 men.Our use of man made chemicals has become so extreme that we can now find traces of these low level toxins in virtually every public water supply in the world. Yes, that means Canada also! A recent report by the Ralph Nader Study Group, after reviewing over 10,000 documents acquired through the Freedom Of Information Act, stated that "U.S. drinking water contains more than 2100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer." The Federal Council On Environmental Quality reports that "Up to two thirds of all cancers may be attributed to these low level toxins." and that "once contaminated our ground water will remain so for tens of thousands of years. if not geologic time!"
"Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to
forestall. He will end by destroying the earth." ~ Albert Schweitzer
Our tendency is to blame it on the big factory up stream. And while industry has certainly played its part in our water contamination problems, it is "us" individuals that are the most to blame. The majority of the contaminants found in our drinking water can be traced back to improper or excessive use of ordinary compounds like lawn chemicals, gasoline, cleaning products and even prescription drugs.
Once we realize that everything that goes down the drain, on our lawns, on our agricultural fields or into the environment by any means. Eventually winds up in the water we drink, we begin to see just how fragile our water supplies really are.
Our municipal water treatment facilities are not designed or effective for removing these synthetic chemicals and typically only consist of sand bed filtration and disinfection, much like a standard swimming pool filter. Our water supplies are increasingly threatened by and contaminated by chemicals and microorganisms.
One of the Worlds leading authorities on water contamination, Dr. David Ozonoff of the Boston University Of Public Health warns that, "the risk of disease associated with public drinking water has passed from the theoretical to the real." Many illnesses that in the past could not be linked to a probable cause can now be directly linked to toxins in our drinking water.
The use of pesticides and herbicides has become so excessive that they are now commonly found in household tap water with alarming frequency.
A 1994 study of 29 major U.S. cities by the Environmental Working Group found that all 29 cities had traces of at least one weed killer in the drinking water. The report titled "Tap Water Blues" went on to say that "Millions of Americans are routinely exposed to one or more pesticides in a single glass of tap water".
These first ever "tap water testing" found two or more pesticides in the drinking water of 27 of the 29 cities, three or more in 24 cities, four or more in 21 cities, five or more in 18 cities, six or more in 13 cities and seven or more pesticides in the tap water of five cities. In Fort Wayne Indiana nine different pesticides were found in a single glass of tap water!
As a startling side note, it was reported that in these 29 cities 45,000 infants drank formula mixed with tap water containing weed killers and that "over half of these infants were swallowing 4 to 9 chemicals in every bottle!"
The fact is, Water does not know where the US / Canada boarder crossings are, therefore we are also part of this issue here in Canada.
The tragic health effects of consuming these highly toxic chemicals are magnified many times over for small children because their systems are more sensitive and still developing. Small children also consume a much larger volume of fluids per pound of body weight and therefore get a bigger dose, yet none of these factors are considered when the EPA's maximum contaminant levels are set. The National Academy of Sciences issued a report in 1993 on this subject and stated that "children are not little adults, their bodies are less developed and incapable of detoxifying certain harmful compounds."
Another major flaw in the estimated risks of chemicals in our drinking water is the false assumption that only that one chemical is being consumed. The regulations are set based on what is assumed safe for a 175 pound adult drinking water with only that one chemical present and does not take into account the combined toxicity of two or more chemicals. In a 1995 Science Advisory Report to the EPA it was stated that "when two or more of these contaminants combine in our water the potency may be increased by as much as 1000 times." Regardless of the differing opinions it is safe to assume that there is no acceptable level for pesticides and weed killers in our drinking water.
In Canada & America each year we use over 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides, or eight pounds for every man woman and child in the country.
Industrial solvents like TCE and Benzene make their way into our water supplies from literally hundreds of sources. Airports and military bases degrease planes and engine parts with TCE, one of the most concentrated toxins in existence. One teaspoon of TCE will render undrinkable over 250,000 gallons of water, and yet thousands of gallons are used in uncontained applications each day. Perchlorethelyne, cyanide, and benzene are used in such common industries as dry cleaning, car washes and photo processing, much of which ends up going down someone's drain and into our water supplies. It has been shown that areas with the highest levels of these manmade carcinogens in their water supplies also have the highest incidence of cancer. Jacquelyn Warren of the Natural Resources Defense Council commented on this subject, "The one thing we know for sure about toxins in our drinking water is that the more we look the more we find."
Cancer extracts a staggering toll from our society, one in every seven people will die from this man made disease. According to the Center For Disease Control "Death from cancer is increasing more rapidly than is the population" It is now widely accepted that cancer is an environmental disease. The World Health Organization and The National Cancer Institute both suggest that most human cancers, perhaps as many as 90%, are caused by chemical carcinogens in the environment. This realization is paramount for change because it means that most cancers could be prevented by minimizing or eliminating our exposure to chemical carcinogens.
While the powerful chemical industry argues that the levels of these toxins in the environment are not significant, scientific evidence has shown otherwise. A National Cancer Institute report to the Surgeon General concluded that "no level of exposure to a chemical carcinogen should be considered toxicologically insignificant for man."
We spend billions of dollars each year seeking a cure for cancer. The disease is merely a result of the real problem, environmental pollution. If we were to direct these billions of dollars and the same intense effort towards curing the problem (pollution) instead of learning to live with the result (cancer), we would do future generations a great service, and we could realistically stop the "cancer epidemic."
Top
"We are quite convinced, based on this study, that there is an association between cancer and chlorinated water." ~ Medical College Research Team
Is the chlorine in our drinking water acting as catalyst triggering tumor development both in atherosclerosis and cancer? The addition of chlorine to our drinking water started in the late 1890’s and had wide acceptance in the United States by 1920. Joseph Price, M. D, wrote a fascinating yet largely ignored book in the late 1960’s, entitled Coronaries Cholesterol. Chlorine, Dr Price believes, is the primary and essential cause of atherosclerosis is chlorine. "Nothing can negate the incontrovertible fact the basic cause of atherosclerosis and resulting entities, such as heart attacks and most common forms of stokes is chlorine. The chlorine contained in processed drinking water." (1)
This conclusion is based on experiments using chlorine in the drinking water of chickens. The results: 95% of the chickens given chlorine added to distilled water developed atherosclerosis within a few months.
Atherosclerosis, heart attacks and the resulting problems of hardening of the arteries and plaque formation is really the last step in a series of biochemical malfunctions. Price points out it takes ten to twenty years before symptoms in humans become evident in many ways, this is reminiscent of cancer which can take twenty to thirty years to develop.
Can chlorine be linked to cancer too? In the chlorination process itself, chlorine combines with natural organic matter decaying vegetation to form potent cancer causing trihalomethanes (THM’s) or haloforms. Trihalomethanes collectively include such carcinogens as chloroforms, bromoforms carbon tectachloride, bischlorothane and others. The amount of THM’s in our drinking water is theoretically regulated by the EPA. Although the maximum amount allowed by law is 100 ppb, a 1976 study showed 31 of 112 municipal water systems exceeded this limit. (2)
According to some studies by 1975, the number of chemical contaminants found in finished drinking water exceeded 300. (3) In 1984 over 700 chemicals had been found in our drinking water The EPA has targeted 129 as posing the greatest threat to our health, Currently the EPA enforces federal standards for 34 drinking water contaminants. In July, 1990 they proposed adding 23 new ones and expects this list increasing to 85 in 1992. (4)
Another report claims the picture is much worse. According to Troubled Waters on Tap "over 2100 contaminants have been detected in U. S. drinking water since 1974 with 190 known or suspected to cause adverse health effects at certain concentration levels. In total, 97 carcinogens and suspected carcinogens, 82 mutagens and suspected mutagens, 28 acute and chronic toxic contaminants and 23 tumor promoters have been detected in U. S. drinking water since 1974. The remaining 90% of the organic matter present in drinking water has not been identified by testing to-date.
Compounds in these concentrations could pose serious toxic effects, either alone or in combination with other chemicals found in drinking water. Overall, available scientific evidence continues to substantiate the link between consumption of toxins in drinking water and serious public health concerns, Studies have strengthened the association between ingestion of toxins and elevated cancer mortality risks"(5)
Studies in New Orleans, Louisiana; Eric County, New York, Washington County Maryland, Ohio County, Ohio reveal high levels of haloforms or THM's in drinking water The result – higher levels of cancer. (6) (7) (8) (9)
"The continued use of chlorine as the main drinking water disinfectant in the United States only adds to the organic chemical contamination of drinking water supplies. The current federal standard regulation of trihalomethanes do not adequately protect water consumers from the multitude of other organic chlorination by-products that have been shown in many studies to be mutagenic and toxic."(5)
"Chlorine is so dangerous" according to biologist/chemist Dr. Herbert Schwartz," that Is should be banned. Putting chlorine in the water is like starting a time bomb. Cancer, heart trouble, premature senility and both mental and physical are conditions attributable to chlorine, treated water supplies. It is making us grow old before our time by producing symptoms of ageing such as hardening of the arteries. I believe if chlorine were now proposed for the first time to be used in drinking water it would be banned by the Food and Drug Administration."(10)
Many municipalities are experimenting with a variety of disinfectants to either take the place of chlorine or to be used in addition, as a way of cutting down on the amount of chlorine added to the water However these alternatives such as chlorine dioxide, bromine chloride, chloromines, etc., are just as dangerous as chlorine. We’ re replacing one toxic chemical with another.
On the positive side, some cities are starting to use aeration carbon filtration, ultraviolet light and ozone as safe alternatives to chemical disinfectants. But the number of cities and the number of people getting water from these methods is minimal.
How can chlorination be linked to heart disease and cancer? In Super Nutrition for Healthy Hearts Dr Richard Passwater shows how "the origin of heart disease is akin to the origin of cancer" Chlorination could very well be a key factor linking these two major diseases Chlorine creates THM's and haloforms. These potent chemical pollutants can trigger the production of excess free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals cause cell damage. Excess free radicals can cause normal smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall to go haywire, to mutate. The fibrous plaque consequently formed is essentially a benign tumor. (11) Unfortunately, this tumor is linked with the origin of heart disease.
If your drinking water is chlorinated, don’t drink it You can purchase very effective filters which will remove 99% of the THM’s or purchase proper bottled spring water. Just this simple safeguard may save thousands from heart disease and cancer - the two major degenerative killers in the United States.
- Price JM. Coronaries Cholesterol/Chlorine. NY: Pyramid, 1969.
- Maugh TH. New Study Links Chlorination and Cancer Science 1983; 211 (February 13): 694.
- Wilkins JR, Reiches NA, Kruse CW. Organic Chemical Contaminants in Drinking Water and Cancer AM. J.
Epidemology 1979; 114: 179-190. - U.S Water News. EPA Seeking to Expand Number of Drinking Water Contaminants to 34. August 1990: 8
- Conacher D. Troubled Waters on Tap Organic Chemicals in Public Drinking Water Systems and the Failure of
Regulation. Wash D. C: Center for Study of Responsive Law, 1988: 114. - Page T, Harris RH, Epstein SS. Drinking Water and Cancer Morality in Louisiana. Science 1976; 193: 55-57.
- Gottlieb DG, Osborne RH. Premiminary Report on Nationwide Study of Drinking Water and Cardiovascular
Diseases. J. Environmental Pathology and Toxicology. 1980; 3: 65-76. - Carlo GL, Mettlin CJ. Cancer Incidence and Trihalomethane Concentrations in a Public Water System. AM. J. Public
Health 1980; 70 (May): 523-525 - Wilkins JR, Comstock GW. Source of Drinking Water at Home and Site-Specific Cancer Incidence in Washington
County, Maryland. AM J. Epidemology. 1981; 114: 178-190. - Dons Bach KW, Walker M. Drinking Water. Huntingdon Beach, CA: Int’l Institute of Natural Health Sciences, 1981.
- Passwater R. Supernutrition for Healthy Hearts. NY: Jova 1978.
Source: - Healthy Water, Martin Fox, PH.d.