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Showering in Chemicals
A ten minute shower can expose you to more chlorine and toxic gases than drinking chlorinated water all day long.
Water studies indicate that you are exposed to 7-10 times more chlorine from showering than from drinking water. Chlorine and its chemical by-products turn into harmful volatile gases in a hot shower that penetrate lungs and skin. Chloroform gas and THMs (trihalomethanes) are the most commonly known names of some of these toxic compounds.
“the average daily intake (of chloroform gas) from a single daily 10-minute shower can exceed the intake (of chloroform gas) for all other exposure pathways” (such as drinking water).
from Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water, Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, August 2004
Breast, colon and bladder cancer have all been linked to these chemicals in shower water which also aggravate asthma, bronchitis and eczema and other skin problems and respiratory disorders.
Protection from chlorine is easy with a good shower filter that can offer surprising cosmetic benefits as well as protecting your health. You’ve experienced the harsh effects of chlorine on your skin and hair after swimming in a chlorinated pool. Showering in filtered water allows skin and hair to retain moisture for a healthier look and feel.
Finding protection from chlorine’s by-products, such as trihalomethanes, is more challenging. The most commonly used shower filter media called KDF, although excellent against chlorine, does NOT reduce exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs).
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