{"id":37034,"date":"2023-08-03T22:45:50","date_gmt":"2023-08-03T22:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=37034"},"modified":"2023-08-03T22:45:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T22:45:52","slug":"why-you-should-filter-your-tap-water-asap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/why-you-should-filter-your-tap-water-asap\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Filter Your Tap Water ASAP!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dive deep into why you should be filling up on\u00a0filtered\u00a0water\u00a0to safeguard your health. This article explores the adverse effects of contaminated\u00a0tap\u00a0water, and offers sustainable and affordable solutions to ensure clean and safe\u00a0drinking\u00a0water\u00a0for you and yours.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

You visit your kitchen and bathroom sinks multiple times a day to fill up your water bottle or brush your teeth. As a kid, you probably drank out of the garden hose more than once. But have you ever stopped to wonder what might be lurking in your tap water?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

When you turn on your faucet, you trust that what comes out is safe to bathe in, wash your dishes with and drink. However, this ordinary substance may not be as innocuous as we\u2019ve been led to believe. There\u2019s a growing concern about tap water contamination \u2014 even community water systems that meet national drinking water standards. Is tap water safe to drink?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Filter<\/figure>\n\n\n

The increased interest in tap water safety, especially following public health tragedies like the Flint water crisis<\/a>, has encouraged more data to be collected on our local drinking water systems. One big concern is the rising rates of cancer and other diseases, leaving us to question whether the tap water we rely on every day may be a factor.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at why you should filter your tap water and how you can ensure yours is clean and safe.<\/p>\n\n\n

The Reality of Bad Tap Water<\/h2>\n\n\n

Water is vital to our lives, but we live in a time when it\u2019s important to proceed with caution. The presence of contaminants in your tap water depends on a number of factors, such as where you live, the water treatment processes in your area, and the condition of the water infrastructure in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

While the intention of municipal water treatment facilities is to provide safe drinking water, there can still be trace amounts of substances that can cause harm over time. Even the Centers for Disease Control<\/a> states, \u201cPublic water is regulated but can sometimes get contaminated.\u201d And as it turns out, that appears to be happening more often than most of us are aware.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

In 1974, the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted to establish EPA standards for certain tap water contaminants, like lead, copper, and arsenic. While the act was updated in 1986 and again in 1996, progress has been slow as contamination worsens in many areas around the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

For instance, a new 2023 study<\/a> conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and published in Environmental International <\/em>found that nearly half of the nation\u2019s water could be contaminated with one of the thousands of harmful per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Plenty of other contaminants make their way into the water system every day, like oral contraceptives and other pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and heavy metals. Plus, water travels many miles through the pipeline before it reaches us, picking up things along the way on top of what may already be in it.<\/p>\n\n\n

The health risks of our exposure to them are plenty, including an increased risk for compromised immunity, hormone disruption, and cancer, to name a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Contaminated<\/figure>\n\n\n

Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)<\/h2>\n\n\n

PFAS are man-made chemicals known to be associated with a higher risk for obesity, heart health issues, cancers<\/a>, infertility, and birth defects. They\u2019re found in things like nonstick cookware, food wrappers, cosmetics, and more. PFAS are also known as \u201cforever chemicals\u201d<\/a> because they are widely used, break down slowly, and persist in the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n

Heavy metals<\/h3>\n\n\n

Lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are known or suspected carcinogens<\/a>. They can find their way into tap water through natural sources, agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and corroded plumbing.<\/p>\n\n\n

Radon<\/h3>\n\n\n

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas<\/a> that can dissolve in groundwater and get into tap water. Long-term ingestion of radon-contaminated water<\/a> has been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n

Disinfection byproducts\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n

Chlorine and other disinfectants are commonly used to treat water and kill harmful microorganisms. But when they react with other naturally occurring compounds in water, they can form byproducts associated with a higher risk of certain cancers<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Pesticides and herbicides<\/h3>\n\n\n

Agricultural practices can introduce pesticides and herbicides into water. Some of these chemicals, such as atrazine and glyphosate<\/a>, are very likely carcinogens<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

Nitrates<\/h3>\n\n\n

Nitrates are common water contaminants, usually coming from fertilizers and septic systems. When they\u2019re present in high amounts, nitrates can form cancer-causing nitrosamines<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Industrial chemicals<\/h3>\n\n\n

Compounds like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been linked to cancer<\/a> in humans. These can enter the water from industrial processes and waste disposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

The Hidden Dangers: Side Effects of Bad Tap Water<\/h2>\n\n\n

Nobody wants to hear that their drinking water might contain cancer-causing substances. Yes, public water systems are monitored and tested against safety and quality standards. But the odds that your drinking water is totally free from harmful substances are pretty much zero.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Some groups are at a higher risk for adverse health effects from their water, such as those who have compromised immune systems, are very young or elderly, or have specific medical conditions.\u00a0But none of us want to be drinking them.<\/p>\n\n\n

What could potentially happen if you\u2019ve been drinking contaminated water? Here are some of the hidden dangers of always drinking straight from the tap.<\/p>\n\n\n

Gastrointestinal issues<\/h3>\n\n\n

If your tap water contains high levels of contaminants, you might experience digestive symptoms<\/a>. One reason may be that tap water is a vehicle for microbiome disruptors<\/a>. Some of the most common include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. More severe cases may lead to diarrhea, bloody stools, abdominal cramps, or even kidney failure, depending on what\u2019s in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n

Skin problems<\/h3>\n\n\n

Being exposed to high doses of chemicals in your tap water may lead to noticeable skin changes. For example, skin discoloration may occur or more seriously, skin lesions<\/a> and cancers from high amounts of arsenic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hormone disruption<\/h3>\n\n\n

Drinking tap water is a known risk<\/a> for ingesting endocrine-disrupting compounds. These may come from a number of residues that enter the drinking water system, including birth control<\/a> pills, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

Compromised immune function<\/h3>\n\n\n

Some compounds in tap water may be immunotoxic. Examples include metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and copper, PFAS, phthalates and bisphenols. While some of these are known to be endocrine disruptors, they have also been found to activate pathways<\/a> involved in autoimmune disease development.<\/p>\n\n\n

You can\u2019t control every water source you\u2019re exposed to, but it\u2019s important to take precautions to safeguard against potential health risks in your home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Filtration Solutions for Clean Water<\/h2>\n\n\n

\u201cBefore considering a water filter, it’s beneficial to understand the quality of your local water,\u201d says registered dietitian Kristin Draayer, MS, RDN<\/a>. She continues, \u201cA water quality report can often be found online and will provide insight into the contaminants present in your local supply.\u201d Then, you can make an informed decision regarding the type of filtration solution you need.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

But hold on, this doesn\u2019t mean you need to panic and buy everything on the market. There are several options<\/a> when it comes to ensuring clean drinking water at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Activated carbon filters<\/h3>\n\n\n

These filters are full of tiny pellets of activated carbon. When water passes through them, anything unwanted gets stuck in the surface of the carbon pieces and doesn\u2019t end up in your filtered water.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n