Many Popular Bottled Waters Are Unsafe To Drink

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http://snipurl.com/4hhji  [nakedwellness_blogspot_com] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2008Many Popular Bottled Waters Are Unsafe To DrinkThe Environmental Working Group (EWG) just published a very disturbing report concerning a study that EWG researchers conducted on 10 major brands of bottled water. While most people who drink bottled water do so because they believe the water to be free of dangerous contaminants, the EWG found that some brands of bottled water were nothing more than tap water! Worse yet, they found 38 dangerous pollutants in the water, including disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, caffeine, arsenic, radioactive isotopes, industrial chemicals (solvents, plasticizers, viscosity decreasing agents, propellants), bacteria and pain medications like Tylenol. Astonishingly, while consumers are provided with local tap water quality reports from public water utilities every year, the bottled water industry has no obligation to test water for contaminants or disclose the results of any tests conducted.Which Bottled Waters Are Unsafe?Some of the worst bottled waters, according to the EWG, include Walmart's Sam's Choice brand and Giant's Acadia brand. In fact, both of these brands had levels of certain chemicals that were well over the legal limits in California and the limits imposed by industry voluntary safety standards. Moreover, cancer-causing contaminants were found in bottled water purchased in North Carolina, California, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia were well over the industry voluntary safety limits.Could Drinking Bottled Water Up Cancer Risk?One brand of bottled water, which was not identified, was actually responsible for triggering a 78% increase in the growth of breast cancer cells compared to the control sample. Now that's scary stuff. The EWG did disclose that a cancer-causing chemical known as bromodichloromethane was found in Walmart's Sam's Choice brand in levels that exceeded the allowable limit for cancer-causing chemicals per California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65, OEHHA 2008). The EWG is filing a lawsuit, because the group wants the water to be given the following label (as required by law): “WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer." Walmart's Sam's Choice brand bottled water was also found to be contaminated with cancer-causing trihalomethanes at levels above California's legal limit for bottled water (CDPR 2008).Is Tap Water Any Better?Unfortunately, most tap water is loaded with contaminants. In fact, many bottled water brands are nothing more than tap water in plastic bottle, only the bottled water is way more expensive. As one can easily see from the EWG's report, buying water that's more expensive doesn't mean it is safer than tap water.What Should Consumers Drink?Unfortunately, the only real way to be sure that drinking water is safe is to take charge of filtering it at home. Shower water should also be filtered (Aquasana has a great shower filter), because skin can easily absorb toxins and cancer-causing contaminants. If one wishes to filter water that is used to wash dishes, a whole-house unit (perhaps one that uses reverse osmosis) is a possibility. Of course, a carbon filter at each sink and shower should also be used along with any whole-house unit to ensure that contaminants that may be lurking in the pipes inside the house are also removed. For even more protection, one could take the water that has been filtered using a whole-house reverse osmosis system followed by a carbon filter at the sink and then use a counter top distillation unit (like the Waterwise® Distiller With Electronic Monitor - Model # 8800) for any water used for cooking or drinking. Not everyone can afford an expensive water filtration system. For those people, a Brita pitcher or a Pur 3 Stage faucet mount may be used. Aquasana also carries an under-the-sink filtration system. If flouride needs to be removed from the water, it is imperative to select an appropriate filtration method.Are Any Bottled Waters Safe?Cheap brands of bottled water found at grocery stores are generally not recommended for drinking, with rare exceptions. Some people like the taste of more expensive bottled artesian waters like Fiji water. This company posts test results for its water right on its website. Of course, for people on the go who prefer to bottle their own water at home, Aquasana sells a set of 6 glass bottles.Easy Ways To Protect The Water Supply-- Don't use laundry detergents that use dyes or fragrances. Does one really need blue laundry detergent? Does one's laundry have to smell like a mountain breeze? All chemicals in such products go right back into the water system. Try using the natural soap nuts that grow on trees from BetterLifeGoods.com. Yes, they really work well.-- Don't use chemical fertilizers and weed killers on the lawn. It's easy for these chemicals to get into water pipes.-- Don't use toxic chemical oven cleaners or toilet cleaners. Keeping the house clean on a regular basis will eliminate the need to use such strong cleaners. Plain white vinegar is great to clean windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces.-- Say "no" to pharmaceutical drugs and over-the-counter medications to the extent possible, as all of these things end up right back in the water supply.-- Buy organic foods. Don't support companies that add chemicals to the food supply.-- Dispose of toxic waste correctly. It certainly cannot go in the kitchen garbage can.-- Write to lawmakers and demand that flouride not be added to the public water supply, as it is completely unsafe. In fact, parents are cautioned in an EWG press release: "The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against giving fluoridated drinking water to infants younger than six months, and the American Dental Association recommends formula made with fluoride-free water for babies less than 1 year old." Flouride is no safer for adults - it just takes longer to cause harm.-- Don't use toxic sunscreen products. If each person uses just one container of sunscreen a year, guess what happens to all of the toxic goop? As soon as one gets in the pool or the ocean, all of those chemicals go right into the water.-- Use only organic soaps, personal care products and hair products. This stuff ends up in the water supply, too.-- Don't use toxic dishwasher detergents. Choose a brand that is safe for the environment.Contact Lawmakers and Demand ActionContact Nancy Pelosi at AmericanVoices, and tell her that laws are needed to protect consumers from dangerous bottled water. It is also important to send faxes to lawmakers. You can (at the time of this writing) send two free faxes per day at FaxZero.com right from any computer with an Internet connection (see terms and conditions at the site). Consumers should never have to worry that bottled water (or tap water) will cause cancer or illness. Why not send a free fax to two different lawmakers every single day? If enough people complain, lawmakers will have to listen. =====In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.