List of pollutants in water and their effects
Chemicals, fertilizers, industrial waste or simply human error are making it more and more unsafe to drink unfiltered water. The urgent question therefore arises, which Pollutants can actually be in our drinking water, and in what concentration.
Increasing the dosage of chlorine is usually a safe way to eliminate most bacteria, although chlorine itself is also harmful. The Chlorine problem is also reflected in the fact that chlorination produces disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes.
Our drinking water quality However, it doesn't just suffer from bacteria and chlorine, but potentially from significantly more pollutants:
Arsenic:
Nervous diseases, carcinogenic (skin and lungs), muscle spasms
Barium:
Influence on the nervous system, muscle irritation, muscle contraction
Benzene:
Anemia, carcinogenic (leukemia), damage to the central nervous system
Lead:
Developmental disorders in small children, kidney damage, anemia (anemia)
Cadmium:
Gastrointestinal diseases, liver and kidney damage, lung and bronchial problems
Chlorobenzene:
Affects respiratory system and central nervous system, carcinogenic, liver and kidney damage
Chlorine:
Hardening of arteries, skin and breathing problems, asthma, allergies, destruction of proteins
Chloroform:
carcinogenic, formed as a byproduct of chlorination
Dichloroethane:
Liver and kidney damage, nerve and memory disorders, nausea
Ethylenedibromide (EDS):
Bone damage, potency weakness
Fluoride:
Bone damage, reduced antibody formation, impaired immune system
Volatile organic compounds (including TCEs):
Liver damage, central nervous system disorders, kidney damage
Industrial chemicals (including PCBs):
Skin inflammation, liver damage, anesthesia, respiratory disorders
Copper:
Gastrointestinal problems, early childhood liver cirrhosis
Lindane:
Anemia, leukemia, liver and kidney damage
Nickel:
Nervous disorders, gastrointestinal problems
Nitrates / Nitrites:
Decreased oxygen transport within blood cells, gastrointestinal cancer
parasites:
Cryptosporidium and Giardia: Vomiting, diarrhea, flu symptoms
Pesticides/Herbicides:
Skin damage, damage to the central nervous system
Mercury:
Kidney damage, damage to the central nervous system
Selenium:
Inflammation of the mucous membranes, skin damage, carcinogenic
Sulfate:
Laxative effect
Toluene:
Eye inflammation, respiratory diseases, narcotic effects
Trihalomethanes (THMs, including chloroform):
Damage to the nervous system and muscles, some carcinogenic
Vinyl chlorine compounds:
Irritation of mucous membranes, disorders of the nervous system, visual and hearing impairments
Xylene:
Lung damage, kidney damage
(Source: trinkwasser-info.de)
Unfortunately, the reality is often different than what we are usually told in the media; we rarely find honest and open reports that point out real risks instead of just talking them down and sweeping them under the carpet. In the videos below you can see such open and critical reports about our water and what risks really lie behind it.
Test tap water for pollutants?
It's best to check for yourself how things are going with your tap water, which you use more or less every day.
There are good options for testing at home with a water test for pollutants (google), which is then examined for the contents in a certified laboratory. There are also quick testers that are cheaper and at least give a direction, but are not as reliable as an analysis.
Filter water instead of just analyzing it
The fact is that even in better places in Germany there are more or fewer pollutants in the tap water. You can see this just by unscrewing the aerator at the front of the faucet and taking a look. There you can see the very coarse substances, such as rust, dirt and residue. If you just send this to a laboratory you are guaranteed to find it.
Depending on the type of analysis, a water analysis also costs a lot. If you want to know exactly, we recommend you do it. You can use it to measure some relevant pollutants, but many substances in the water remain invisible/unmeasurable for us, despite the water test. That's why we recommend you use a good filter instead. Because a good filter basically filters out 95-99,99% of the substances, which means that basically everything that doesn't belong in is out.
We have been involved in the issue of water and health for a long time and know how to get these everyday problems under control and therefore offer real, good solutions that bring safety and benefits for you and your family at home. So at least you no longer have to worry about your water supply.
