Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Real Dirt on Clean Water

Your Tap Water may look clean, but in a study conducted by the Enviromental Working Group (EWG), more than 300 pollutants were found in the drinking water in 45 states.  What can you do to help protect yourself and your family against potentially harmful contaminants?

According to the US, Environmental Protection Agency, public water untilities have violated the Safe Drinking Water Act - which has not been updated since 1996 - more than 700,000 times in the past seven years!

What's in Your Water?


Your tap water may not be as safe to drink as you think it is. It may contain lead from corroded pipes, atrazine (a common pesticide), discharge from industrial activity, and other contaminants you can’t necessarily see, taste, or smell. Over time, some contaminants may negatively impact your health. So which contaminants should you be on the lookout for?

• Disinfection by-products can form when chemicals used by local water utilities to kill water-borne microorganisms react with elements that sometimes may be present in the water.

• Heavy metals, including lead, are commonly present in pipes and can easily end up in your drinking glass. Even "lead-free" pipes are no exception; they can actually contain up to 8% lead.

• Agricultural pollutants not only threaten fish and wildlife, they can affect your health. One common pesticide to watch out for is atrazine. Although banned in Europe, over 70 million pounds of atrazine are currently used on farms across the United States.

• Industrial pollutants are prevalent in urban areas. One example of an industrial pollutant is benzene; up to 6 million pounds of this toxic chemical are released in the U.S. every year.

Long-term exposure to these contaminants may cause serious health problems—such as compromised kidney and liver function. And for young children, the risk is even greater. For example, long-term exposure to lead can cause reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and impaired growth.

Who's Responsible for Regulating Your Water?

So who's paying attention to the levels of all the pollutants in your water? Good question. More than half of the pollutants found in drinking water by the EWG are not held to any safety standards. And according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, public water utilities have violated the Safe Drinking Water Act—which has not been updated since 1996—more than 700,000 times in the past seven years.

Who's Responsible for Regulating Your Water?

There are steps you can take to help safeguard yourself and your family against contaminants.1. Do your homework: Research how your water gets from your municipality to your home.

2. Take action: Purchase a water filtration system that’s independently certified to reduce contaminants in your water that may be hazardous to your health. Look for ones with the Water Quality Association (WQA) or National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) seal.

3. Take action: Purchase a water filtration system that’s independently certified to reduce contaminants in your water that may be hazardous to your health. Look for ones with the Water Quality Association (WQA) or National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) seal.



This is reposted from a Shaklee Wellness Update.  If you are concerned about your water, check out our special offer solution, providing you with 365 Days of Clean Water.
http://letsbetoxinfree.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=89114


To Your Health,
Lisa







No comments:

Post a Comment