In Russia, as in most countries of the world, chlorine is used to purify tap water. Combining with hydrogen and oxygen, this poisonous element forms weak solutions of hypochlorous and hydrochloric acids. Both destroy most of the pathogenic microbes, viruses, fungal spores and helminth eggs contained in the water.
The introduction of water chlorination was at one time a real breakthrough, which made it possible to dramatically reduce the number of pandemics and provide the population with clean water. But don't forget that chlorine is a poison. In high concentration, it poses a threat to all species.
Why chlorinated water is dangerous
About 2 million tons of chlorine are annually spent on disinfecting water in the world. According to hygienic standards, the concentration of this element in water should not exceed 0.5 mg / liter. But even if all the standards are observed, the liquid flowing from the water taps contains highly toxic compounds: chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, 2-chlorophenol, chlorohydrochloride, etc.
All of them gradually accumulate in the body and harm it to one degree or another. Chloroform is carcinogenic and provokes the formation of cancerous tumors. Chlorine dioxides have mutagenic and immunotoxic properties, that is, they simply kill human immunity, cause anemia, diseases of internal organs and irreversible changes in the composition of cells.
Back in the 80s of the XX century, US epidemiologists compared the map of water chlorination with the foci of the spread of cancer and found the closest relationship between them. The more chlorine compounds in the water, the higher the chances of getting cancer. Of course, all this does not mean that tap water is a continuous “cocktail” of highly toxic compounds and therefore deadly. Harmful impurities are present in it in dissolved form and in very low concentrations.
And yet it dries out the skin, leads to fragility and hair loss, irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes. Chloride compounds easily penetrate the body through the pores of the epidermis, therefore they affect even its deep layers and internal organs. Anyone who has ever been to the pool knows the feeling of tightness in the skin, which is not so easy to get rid of. It is precisely caused by chlorine and its harmful effects.
Anyone who does not want to see wrinkles and other age-related changes on his face ahead of time, as well as face conjunctivitis, should wash less often with tap water. Now there are a lot of hypoallergenic cosmetics that will cope with the task of cleansing the face much safer and more effectively.
There is an exit
In 2014, the University of Nagoya (Japan) invented a new method for purifying tap water. Under the guidance of Professor Hiroshi Amano, scientists have developed a method for disinfecting water using ultraviolet radiation and LEDs. But until the new technology is introduced into life, it is worth using high-quality filters. They will not only remove a significant part of pollution, but also eliminate the main danger - toxic and carcinogenic chlorine.
