How Does Chlorine in Water Affect my Health?

What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is a naturally occurring element; symbol Cl, atomic number 17 on the periodic table. It's a very dangerous toxin that has many uses, from disinfecting to bleaching. In small quantities, liquid and gas forms can be poisonous. In its gas form, chlorine is a pale green color and has a smelly odor and makes your breathing labored. In its solid form, it's more of a yellow green color. It is abundant in nature in its chloride ion form found in many of the salts that are in the earth. Many animals, including humans need chlorine. But there is a limit to what we can physically tolerate.

How am I Exposed to Chlorine?

Even taking a long bath or shower increases a person's risk for chlorine exposure because chlorine can enter the body through skin absorption or through the eyes, nose, and ears.

Chlorine has long been used to disinfect our drinking water because it controls the growth of such unwelcome bacteria as Ecoli and Giardia. You have to be careful also, to take precautions even when showering or drinking tap water.

• Absorption through skin from water and from the air
• Drinking & Eating
• Breathing in the fumes that chlorine can create

It should be noted that the dangers of chlorine exposure also exist for people who do not normally swim, but instead choose to sit by the pool sunbathing or socializing. In some instances, non-swimmers have tested positive for high levels of trichloramines. What all of this means is that people need to be more aware of some of the seemingly innocent dangers that they are commonly exposed to. Chlorine, by many schools of thought, has become a dinosaur for swimming pool sanitation. There are alternative methods that can be used to keep pools disinfected, including silver-copper ion generators.

What are Possible Symptoms of Exposure to Toxic Levels of Chlorine?

Research has shown, however, that long-term exposure to chlorine leads to the production of free radicals within the body. Free radicals are carcinogenic, and cause tremendous damage to our cells.¹

Did You Know? The risk of developing cancer is 93% higher in people who drink or are otherwise exposed to chlorinated water?² Chlorine is a potential health hazard to both children and adults, and it is an issue that should be taken quite seriously.

According to a Belgian study that was released in 2003, certain irritants called trichloramines are released any time chlorinated water reacts with organic materials (such as sweat or urine) from people.³ Trichloramines are believed to initiate a biological process that effectively destroys the cellular barriers surrounding the lungs.

Children exposed to large amounts of chlorine could potentially suffer asthmatic attacks. In one research study, rats exposed to chlorine and chloramines developed tumors in their kidneys and intestines.

Chlorine can irritate severely, even burn, skin exposed directly to it. It can irritate and burn the eyes and throat as well.

REFERENCES

1. The Hidden Danger of Chlorine in our Bath Water. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Hidden-Danger-Of-Chlorine-In-Our-Bath-Water&id=71857. Andie Klein.
2. Dangers of Chlorine. http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=21&db=3&CO=7. Jerry Smith. Accessed 29 May 2008.
3. Dangers of Chlorine? http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA361110. Dr. Andrew Weil.