All of us bathe, but a lot of us are unknowingly absorbing chlorine through our respiratory system and our skin as we work to get clean. While the chemical does help to kill off unwanted, bad bacteria, it also has some unfortunate side effects as we use it over time.
However, is this chlorine-treated water
making you ill? The answer may shock you.
Municipalities
use chlorine routinely to keep bacteria out of drinking water. Many people use
chlorine to keep their pool water clean and safe.
Chlorine and Water
Water-based bacteria are some of the
worst to be exposed to. They thrive in standing water, or water that doesn’t
flow or move in waves. This means our wells and our pools can be dangerous, so
we add chlorine to them to prevent any terrible sickness.
Chlorine does an excellent job of
killing bacteria, keeping bugs away, and making water clear. However, it can
also kill off the beneficial bacteria we need in our water to keep us healthy.
As more evidence about the harmfulness
of chlorine is released, solutions
like de-chlorinating bath salts are something consumers are using to improve their health.
The Problem with Chlorine
As chlorine is used to treat water, the
chemical combines with natural matter and forms compounds known as
trihalomethanes, (THMS). For example, a common THMS is chloroform -- a carcinogen. These compounds are bad for the human body and turn toxic when we consume them, breathe
them in, or put them on our bodies.
Many
health and wellness writers have alerted their readers to the dangers of
chlorine. As most U.S. cities keep their tap water safe with two to four parts
per million of chlorine to water, many people are absorbing elevating levels of
chlorine.
How Chlorine Affects You
One of the first signs you are reacting to chlorine
could be the quality of your skin. As you bathe with treated water, inhale the
steam from your bath or shower, and drink glasses of water, your gut flora, or
the good bacteria in your intestines, break down as chlorine enters your
system.
In your gut, your body
produces vitamin B12 and vitamin K.
Chlorine has also been shown to affect your system’s level of vitamin E and
polyunsaturated acids. Without a good balance of these different
bacteria-reliant elements, your skin may start to suffer. People have discovered
rashes, developed cases of eczema, or broken out with acne due to the chemical
additive.
Another visible and immediate result of overexposure
to chlorine is dry or itchy skin. While many of us turn to soothing, treated
bathwater to keep us from scratching, the bath treatment may be the problem.
The dry sensation is a result of a depletion of proteins in the skin, which we
need to keep our skin soft and elastic. A better solution would be shorter
showers or baths, followed by a natural moisturizer to rehydrate the skin right
away.
Chlorine is also blamed for supporting the growth of
free radicals in the body. These go on to damage cells and build the foundation
for cancer. Chlorinated water may be tied to bowel, breast, skin, and bladder
cancer. All these can be costly, at best, and fatal in serious cases.
Bath
salts
Solving the Problem
Bath salts with
vitamin C are designed to de-chlorinate water and work as a filter. This give
you soft skin and beautiful healthily hair, and reduces your chances of skin
problems or more serious, long-term
illnesses. Bath salts help open your pores and can even help with certain skin
conditions such as psoriasis. Many treat the pain of arthritis with bath salts.
Vitamin C
Another excellent choice for treating your water is
vitamin C alone. Two forms of vitamin C, including the vitamin C taken as
supplements, will neutralize chlorine: ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate. You
can also use sulfur-based chemicals to get rid of the chlorine, but
sulfur-based cleaners lower the dissolved oxygen content. Vitamin C does not do
so.
Vitamin C also will not harm plants in fish tanks.
Water
softening systems
You can also invest in a water-softening system. This
helps your soap and shampoos foam more and last longer, as you will only need a
small amount to get clean. It will also help the steam from showers and baths
be safer and have a nicer feel and smell.
Final Word
No matter how you address the problem, it is essential you make your water as healthy as possible. Getting rid of chlorine by switching to de-chlorinating bath salts is a great start.
