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As the debate over the accessibility and cleanliness of drinking water continues to simmer, it is natural for you to want to abandon those deceptive bottled water companies and begin filtering your own personal water source. This step towards safeguarding your health seems liberating at first, but it is important to note that water filtration comes with its own set of pitfalls. While you may have spent a pretty penny on a state-of-the-art drinking water filtration system, that product may not be protecting you from all contaminants. Chlorine, for example, is particularly harmful to your health with frequent exposure, and can be absorbed through the skin, and breathed in as vapors in addition to being ingested orally (according to the Pacific Health Center). Imagine the amount of exposure to harmful substances children receive when taking baths!  Fear not, however, for there is an answer to the problem of water contamination and it comes in the way of whole house water filters, but before you jump the gun and invest in any filtration system read the following information on water contaminants and you’ll be ready to tackle the problem head-on. Water Contaminants and Their Sources According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drinking water in this country comes from either ground or surface water. Surface water such as from lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs are treated by public water systems to reduce the level of natural and man-made contaminants t...

The PFAS results from Consumer Reports tests are particularly troubling. Manufacturers use PFAS to make stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, water-repellent clothing, nonstick cookware, and hundreds of other common products. The compounds can seep into water from factories, landfills, and other sources. And because they don’t easily break down in the environment, they’re often called “forever chemicals”. Investigation into the health effects of PFAS exposure is ongoing, but some of the strongest evidence about their potential risks comes from research of about 69,000 people in and around Parkersburg, W Va. It found a “probable link” between exposure to a type of PFAS and six health problems: high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and testicular and kidney cancers. Research has also linked some PFAS to learning delays in children. At least 2,337 communities in 49 states have drinking water known to be contaminated with PFAS, according to a January analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an advocacy organization. CR’s tests results confirm the ubiquity of the chemicals: PFAS were found   in 117 of the 120 samples we tested, from locations across the country. Despite mounting evidence of widespread contamination and health risks, the EPA has still not set an enforceable legal limit for PFAS in drinking water. Instead, it has established only voluntary limits, which apply to just two of the better-studied forever chem...

Contaminants that can sometimes be found in drinking water can have a serious effect on your health. Some contaminants, such as cesium, iodine, lead, strontium, and tritium can lead to cancer. Other contaminants, such as chlorate, chlorite, cyanide, ethylbenzene, and xylenes can cause other organ, respiratory, and neurological issues. Chlorite and chlorate are a byproduct of disinfection in systems involving chlorine dioxide, and can cause thyroid gland effects, neurobehavioral effects, decreased absolute brain weight, and altered liver weights. Cyanide is introduced into water by industrial and mining effluents and are released from organic compounds, and exposure can cause hypersensitivity, asthma, or bronchitis. Ethylbenzene and xylenes come from the emissions or spills of petroleum and chemical industries, and exposure can lead to liver and pituitary gland issues or neuromuscular effects. Carcinogenic contaminants can also be found in drinking water. Cesium and strontium come from nuclear weapons and reactors and can cause multiple cancers. Iodine can also cause multiple cancers and comes from sewage effluent. Lead and tritium are naturally occurring but can lead to cancer as well. While some of these contaminants may not have immediate health consequences, they can be dangerous if you’re exposed to them for a long period of time. Even at low doses, the effects can be cumulative over the years. In the United States, there is a requirement to test for all of the contam...