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Water Health Alert: Is
Chlorine Causing Cancer
Source: - Healthy Water, Martin Fox, PH.d.
Is the chlorine in our drinking water acting as catalyst triggering
tumor development both in atherosclerosis and cancer? The addition of
chlorine to our drinking water started in the late 1890’s and had wide
acceptance in the United States by 1920. Joseph Price, M. D, wrote a
fascinating yet largely ignored book in the late 1960’s, entitled
Coronaries Cholesterol. Chlorine, Dr Price believes, is the primary and
essential cause of atherosclerosis is chlorine. "Nothing can negate the
incontrovertible fact the basic cause of atherosclerosis and resulting
entities, such as heart attacks and most common forms of stokes is
chlorine. The chlorine contained in processed drinking water."
1
This conclusion is based on experiments using chlorine in the drinking
water of chickens. The results: 95% of the chickens given chlorine added
to distilled water developed atherosclerosis within a few months.
Atherosclerosis, heart attacks and the resulting problems of hardening
of the arteries and plaque formation is really the last step in a series
of biochemical malfunctions. Price points out it takes ten to twenty
years before symptoms in humans become evident In many ways, this is
reminiscent of cancer which can take twenty to thirty years to develop.
Can chlorine be linked to cancer too? In the chlorination process
itself, chlorine combines with natural organic matter decaying
vegetation to form potent cancer causing trihalomethanes (THM’s) or
haloforms. Trihalomethanes collectively include such carcinogens as
chloroforms, bromoforms carbon tectachloride, bischlorothane and others.
The amount of THM’s in our drinking water is theoretically regulated by
the EPA. Although the maximum amount allowed by law is 100 ppb, a 1976
study showed 31 of 112 municipal water systems exceeded this limit.2
According to some studies by 1975, the number of chemical contaminants
found in finished drinking water exceeded 300.3 In 1984 over 700
chemicals had been found in our drinking water The EPA has targeted 129
as posing the greatest threat to our health, Currently the EPA enforces
federal standards for 34 drinking water contaminants. In July, 1990 they
proposed adding 23 new ones and expects this list increasing to 85 in
1992.4
Another report claims the picture is much worse. According to Troubled
Waters on Tap "over 2100 contaminants have been detected in U. S.
drinking water since 1974 with 190 known or suspected to cause adverse
health effects at certain concentration levels. In total, 97 carcinogens
and suspected carcinogens, 82 mutagens and suspected mutagens, 28 acute
and chronic toxic contaminants and 23 tumor promoters have been detected
in U. S. drinking water since 1974. The remaining 90% of the organic
matter present in drinking water has not been identified by testing
to-date.
Compounds in these concentration could pose serious toxic effects,
either alone or in combination with other chemicals found in drinking
water. Overall, available scientific evidence continues to substantiate
the link between consumption of toxins in drinking water and serious
public health concerns, Studies have strengthened the association
between ingestion of toxins and elevated cancer mortality risks"5
Studies in New Orleans, Louisiana; Eric County, New York, Washington
County Maryland, Ohio County, Ohio reveal high levels of haloforms or
THM ‘s in drinking water The result – higher levels of cancer.6,7,8,9
‘The continued use of chlorine as the main drinking water disinfectant
in the United States only adds to the organic chemical contamination of
drinking water supplies. The current federal standard regulation of
trihalomethanes do not adequately protect water consumers from the
multitude of other organic chlorination by-products that have been shown
in many studies to be mutagenic and toxic’5
"Chlorine is so dangerous" according to biologist/chemist Dr. Herbert
Schwartz," that Is should be banned. Putting chlorine In the water is
like starting a time bomb. Cancer, heart trouble, premature senility,
both mental and physical are conditions attributable to chlorine
treated water supplies. It is making us grow old before our time by
producing symptoms of ageing such as hardening of the arteries. I
believe if chlorine were now proposed for the first time to be used in
drinking water it would be banned by the Food and Drug
Administration."10
Many municipalities are experimenting with a variety of disinfectants to
either take the place of chlorine or to be used in addition, as a way of
cutting down on the amount of chlorine added to the water However these
alternatives such as chlorine dioxide, bromine chloride, chloromines,
etc., are just as dangerous as chlorine. We’ re replacing one toxic
chemical with another.
On the positive side, some cities are starting to use aeration carbon
filtration, ultraviolet light and ozone as safe alternatives to chemical
disinfectants. But the number of cities and the number of people getting
water from these methods is minimal.
How can chlorination be linked to heart disease and cancer? In Super
Nutrition for Healthy Hearts Dr Richard Passwater shows how "the origin
of heart disease is akin to the origin of cancer" Chlorination could
very well be a key factor linking these two major diseases. Chlorine
creates THM's and haloforms. These potent chemical pollutants can
trigger the production of excess free radicals in our bodies. Free
radicals cause cell damage. Excess free radicals can cause normal smooth
muscle cells in the arterial wall to go haywire, to mutate. The fibrous
plaque consequently formed is essentially a benign tumor. 11
Unfortunately, this tumor is linked with the origin of heart disease.
If your drinking water is chlorinated, don’t drink it. You can purchase
very effective filters which will remove 99% of the THM’s or purchase
proper bottled spring water. Just this simple safeguard may save
thousands from heart disease and cancer - the two major degenerative
killers in the United States.
References
- Price JM. Coronaries Cholesterol/Chlorine. NY: Pyramid, 1969.
- Maugh TH. New Study Links Chlorination and Cancer Science 1983; 211
(February 13): 694.
- Wilkins JR, Reiches NA, Kruse CW. Organic Chemical Contaminants in
Drinking Water and Cancer AM. J. Epidemology 1979; 114: 179-190.
- U.S Water News. EPA Seeking to Expand Number of Drinking Water
Contaminants to 34. August 1990: 8
- Conacher D. Troubled Waters on Tap Organic Chemicals in Public Drinking
Water Systems and the Failure of Regulation. Wash D. C: Center for Study
of Responsive Law, 1988: 114.
- Page T, Harris RH, Epstein SS. Drinking Water and Cancer Morality in
Louisiana. Science 1976; 193: 55-57.
- Gottlieb DG, Osborne RH. Premiminary Report on Nationwide Study of
Drinking Water and Cardiovascular Diseases. J. Environmental Pathology
and Toxicology. 1980; 3: 65-76.
- Carlo GL, Mettlin CJ. Cancer Incidence and Trihalomethane Concentrations
in a Public Water System. AM. J. Public Health 1980; 70 (May): 523-525
- Wilkins JR, Comstock GW. Source of Drinking Water at Home and
Site-Specific Cancer Incidence in Washington County, Maryland. AM J.
Epidemology. 1981; 114: 178-190.
- Dons Bach KW, Walker M. Drinking Water. Huntingdon Beach, CA: Int’l
Institute of Natural Health Sciences, 1981.
- Passwater R. Supernutrition for Healthy Hearts. NY: Jova 1978.
Products that remove chlorine and other contaminants from
your water:
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