Loading...

Shower Poison

Posted by wolfkodiak on February 15, 2007 - 10:09am

I guess everyone should weigh in with their concerns and opinions about water quality. I am neither a doctor nor am I a scientist but I did a little research about the addition of chlorine to the water supplies and came up with some interesting results. I really think local municipalities should do a little more research before possibly endangering the lives of of the affected population.

The addition of chlorine to our drinking water began in the late 1800s and by 1904 was the standard in water treatment, and for the most part remains so today. We don’t use chlorine because it’s the safest or even the most effective means of disinfection, we use it because it is the CHEAPEST. In spite of all our technological advances, we essentially still pour bleach in our water before we drink it.

Up to 2/3s of our harmful exposure to chlorine is due to inhalation of steam and skin absorption while showering. A warm shower opens up the pores of the skin and allows for accelerated absorption of chlorine and other chemicals in water. The steam we inhale while showering can contain up to 50 times the level of chemicals than tap water due to the fact that chlorine and most other contaminants vaporize much faster and at a lower temperature than water. Inhalation is a much more harmful means of exposure since the chlorine gas (chloroform) we inhale goes directly into our blood stream. When we drink contaminated water the toxins are partially filtered out by our kidneys and digestive system. Chlorine vapors are known to be a strong irritant to the sensitive tissue and bronchial passages inside our lungs, it was used as a chemical weapon in World War II. The inhalation of chlorine is a suspected cause of asthma and bronchitis, especially in children… which has increased 300% in the last two decades. “Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated levels of chloroform in nearly every home because of chlorine in the water.” (Dr Lance Wallace, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Simply stated chlorine is a pesticide, as defined by the U.S. EPA, who’s sole purpose is to kill living organisms.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Re: Shower Poison

Submitted by vinylgirl on February 15, 2007 - 11:31am.

Great comments Wolfkodiak. I completely agree, as I have posted before, chlorine, and flouride are terrible. I think most people take it for granted, when they open their taps, that what ever comes out of it, because "it is treated", is safe. This is unfortunately not the case. It has been done for so long, that it is just common place to assume that what the government mandates as safe vis a vis additives to drinking water, additives to food . . .must be safe because it is regulated and "professionals" have researched it.

Heck, all I have to do is look at my eczema. It flares up with chlorination (where I live), and when I get up to Sauble (untreated good water), it goes away. It is the same for my kids.

Re: Re: Shower Poison

Submitted by Dan O. on February 16, 2007 - 9:36pm.

Vinylgirl; try fish oil, it helps to reduce inflammatory symptoms.

Wolfkodiak; I can't dispute the negative effects of chlorine. It isn't only used because it is the cheapest disinfectant, it also has good residual action. It is a poison, as are the pesticides on your food. I've attached a list of carcinogens, unfortunately life is limited if you try to avoid them.

CARCINOGEN LIST

IARC AND NTP CARCINOGEN LIST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This list includes three categories of substances and processes regarded as carcinogenic, primarily by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation (IARC), and to a lesser extent, the US Government's Annual Report on Carcinogens from the National Toxicology Program (NTP).

Although there are some difference in categorisation, for convenience we have combined the lists under a common nomenclature. There are some minor omissions and exclusions of exotic materials. Please notify us of any errors or omissions considered important.

Category 1 is for substances for which there is sufficient evidence for a causal relationship with cancer in humans (confirmed human carcinogen).

Category 2A is for substances for which there is a lesser degree of evidence in humans but sufficient evidence in animal studies, or degrees of evidence considered appropriate to this category, eg unequivocal evidence of mutagenicity in mammalian cells (probable human carcinogen).

Category 2B is for substances for which there is sufficient evidence in animal tests, or degrees of evidence considered appropriate to this category (possible human carcinogen).

Excluded from the list above are IARC category 3 carcinogens for which assessment evidence is 'limited'.

All IARC monographs up to issue 60, 1994 and the NTP Sixth Report on Carcinogens are included; (and will update both sources soon).

Please refer to the original IARC and NTP documents for a more detailed description of categories and carcinogenicity evidence.

NOTE: THIS LIST CONVEYS A WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH AND CAN NOT INCORPORATE INFORMATION ON RISK.
WHILE WE SUPPORT SUCH AN APPROACH, RISK ASSESSMENTS MUST INCLUDE CONSIDERATIONS OF EXPOSURE, DOSE AND BIOCHEMICAL RELEVANCE.

Category 1
=========
Aflatoxins
Alcoholic beverages
Aluminium production
4-aminobiphenyl
Arsenic and arsenic compounds
Asbestos
Manufacture of auramine
Azathioprine
Benzene
Benzidine
Beryllium and compounds (upgraded from 2A)
Betel quid with tobacco
Bis(chloromethyl)ether and chloromethyl methyl ether (technical grade)
Boot and shoe manufacture and repair (occupational exposure)
1,4 Butanediol dimethanesulphonate (Myleran)
Cadmium and compounds (upgraded from 2A)
Chlorambucil
Chlornaphazine
1-(2-Chloroethyl)-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1 nitrosourea
Chloromethyl methyl ether (technical)
Chromium compounds (hexavalent)
Coal gasification
Coal tar pitches
Coal tars
Coke production
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclosporin
Erionite
Ethylene oxide
Furniture and cabinet making
Underground haematite mining with exposure to radon
Iron and steel founding
Isopropyl alcohol manufacture (strong acid process)
Manufacture of magenta (see also magenta, 2B)
Melphalan
8-Methoxypsoralen (Methoxsalen) plus ultraviolet radiation
Mineral oils_untreated and mildly-treated oils
MOPP and other combined chemotherapy for cancer
Mustard gas (sulphur mustard)
2-Naphthylamine
Nickel and nickel compounds (essentially sulphate and sulphide)
Nonsteroidal oestrogens (not necessarily all in group); includes
diethylstilboestrol
Oestrogen replacement therapy and
Combined oral contraceptives and sequential oral contraceptives
Steroidal oestrogens (not all in group)
Painter (occupational exposure as a painter)
Phenacetin (analgesic mixtures containing)
Rubber industry
Salted fish, Chinese style
Solar radiation
Shale oils
Soots
Sulphuric acid (occupational exposures to strong-inorganic-acid mists of
sulphuric acid)
Talc containing asbestiform fibres
Thiotepa
Tobacco products (smokeless)
Tobacco smoke
Treosulphan
Vinyl chloride

Category 2A
===========
Acrylamide
Acrylonitrile
Adriamycin
Anabolic steroids
Azacitidine
Benzanthracene
Benzidine-based dyes (technical grade)
Direct Black 38
Direct Blue 6
Direct Brown 95
Benzopyrene
1,3-Butadiene
Captafol
Bischloroethyl nitrosourea (BCNU)
1-(2-Chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU)
Chloramphenicol
para-Chloro-ortho-toluidine and its strong acid salts
Chlorozotocin
Cisplatin
Creosotes
Dibenzanthracene
Diesel engine exhaust
Diethyl sulphate
Dimethylcarbamoyl chloride
Dimethyl sulphate
Epichlorohydrin
Ethylene dibromide
N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea
Formaldehyde
Glass manufacturing industry (occupational exposure)
Art glass, glass containers and pressed ware
Hairdresser or barber (occupational exposure, probably dyes)
Insecticide use (occupational)
IQ (2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline);
Mate drinking (hot)
5-Methoxypsoralen
4,4'-Methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA)
N-Methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)
N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea
Nitrogen mustard
N-Nitrosodiethylamine
N-Nitrosodimethylamine
Petroleum refining (occupational refining exposures)
Phenacetin
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Procarbazine hydrochloride
Silica (crystalline)
Styrene-7,8-oxide
Tris(1-azaridinyl)phosphine sulphide (Thiotepa)
Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate
Ultraviolet radiation: A, B and C including sunlamps and sunbeds
Vinyl bromide

Category 2B
===========
A-C(2-Amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole)
Acetaldehyde
Acetamide
AF-2[2-(2-Furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide
para-Aminoazobenzene
ortho-Aminoazobenzene
2-Amino-5-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole
Amitrole
ortho-Anisidine
Antimony trioxide
Aramite
Atrazine
Attapulgite
Azaserine
Benzo[b]fluoranthene
Benzo[j]fluoranthene
Benzo[k]fluoranthene
Benzyl violet
Bitumens (extracts of steam-refined and air-refined bitumens)
Bleomycins
Bracken ferns
Bromodichloromethane
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
á-Butyrolactone
Caffeic acid
Carbon black extract
Carbon tetrachloride
Carrageenan (degraded)
Ceramic fibres
Chloramphenicol
Chlordane
Chlordecone
Chlorendic acid
Chlorinated paraffins of average carbon-chain length C12 and average
degree of chlorination approx 60%
alpha-Chlorinated toluenes (not necessarily all in group)
Benzotrichloride
para-Chloroaniline
Chloroform
Chlorophenols
Pentachlorophenol
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
Chlorophenoxy herbicides (not necessarily all in group)
4-Chloro-ortho-phenylenediamine
CI Acid Red 114
CI Basic Red 9
CI Direct Blue 15
Citrus Red No.2
Cobalt and cobalt compounds
Coffee (bladder)
para-Cresidine
Cycasin
Dacarbazine
Dantron (1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone)
Daunomycin
DDT
N,N'-Diacetylbenzidine
4,4'-Diaminodiphenyl ether
2,4-Diaminotoluene
Dibenz[a,h]acridine
Dibenz[a,j]acridine
7H-Dibenzo[c,g]carbazole
Dibenzo[a,e]pyrene
Dibenzo[a,h]pyrene
Dibenzo[ai]pyrene
Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane
para-Dichlorobenzene
3,3'-Dichlorobenzene
3,3'-Dichloro-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether
1,2-Dichloroethane
Dichloromethane
1,3-Dichloropropene (technical grade)
Dichlorvos
Diepoxybutane
Diesel fuel (marine)
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
1,2-Diethylhydrazine
Diglycidyl resorcinol ether
Dihydrosafrole
Diisopropyl sulfate
3,3'-Dimethoxybenzidine
para-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
trans-2-[(Dimethylamino)methylimino]-5-[2-(5-nitro-2-
furyl[vinyl]-1,3,4-oxidiazole
2,6-Dimethylaniline (2,6-Xylidene)
3,3'-Dimethylbenzidine (ortho-tolidine)
Dimethylformamide
1,1-Dimethylhydrazine
1,2-Dimethylhydrazine
1,6-Dinitropyrene
1,8-Dinitropyrene
1,4-Dioxane
Disperse Blue 1
Ethyl acrylate
Ethylene thiourea
Ethyl methanesulphonate
2-(2-Formylhydrazino)-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole
Fuel oils (residual, heavy)
Fusarium moniliforme (toxins derived from)
Fumonisin B1; Fumonisin B2; Fusarin C
Gasoline
Gasoline engine exhausts
Glasswool
Glu-P-1 (2-Amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3'2'-d]imidazole)
Glu-P-2(-Aminodipyrido[1,2-a:3'2'-d]imidazole)
Glycidaldehyde
Griseofulvin
HC Blue No 1
Heptachlor
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorocyclohexanes
Technical grades
alpha isomer
gamma isomer (lindane)
Hexamethylphosphoramide
Hydrazine
Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene
Iron-dextran complex
Isoprene
Lasiocarpine
Lead and lead compounds (inorganic)
Magenta (containing CI Basic Red 9)
Man-made mineral fibres (see glasswool, rockwool, slagwool, and ceramic
fibres)
MeA-a-C (2-Amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole)
MeIQ (2-Amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinolone)
MeIQx (2-Amino-3,8-dimethylamidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline)
Methylmercury compounds (methylmercuric chloride)
Merphalan
2-Methylaziridine
Methylazoxymethanol and its acetate
5-Methylchrysene
4,4'-Methylenebis(2-methylaniline)
4,4'-Methylenedianiline
Methylmethanesulphonate
2-methyl-1-nitroanthraquinone (uncertain purity)
N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane
Methylthiouracil
Metronidazole
Mirex
Mitomycin
Monocrotaline
5-(Morpholinomethyl)-3-[(5-nitrofurfurylidene)amino]-2-oxazolidinone
Nafenopin
Niridazole
5-Nitroacenaphthene
6-Nitrochrysene
Nitrofen (technical grade)
2-Nitrofluorene
1-[(5-Nitrofurfurylidene)amino]-2-imidazolidinone
N-[4-(5-Nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]acetamide
Nitrogen mustard N-oxide
Nitrolotriacetic acid and its salts
2-Nitropropane
1-Nitropyrene
4-Nitropyrene
N-Nitrosodi-n-butylamine
N-Nitrosodiethanolamine
N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine
3-(N-Nitrosomethylamino)propionitrile
4-(N-Nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)
N-Nitrosomethylethylamine
N-Nitrosomethylvinylamine
N-Nitrosomorpholine
N-Nitrosonornicotine
N-Nitrosopiperidene
N-Nitrosopyrrolidine
N-Nitrososarcosine
Ochratoxin A
Oil Orange
Panfuran S (containing dihydroxymethylfuratzine)
Phenazopyridine hydrochloride
Phenobarbital
Phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride
Phenyl glycidyl ether
Phenytoin
PhIP (2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine
Pickled vegetables, traditional Asian
Polybrominated biphenyls
Ponceau MX
Ponceau 3R
Potassium bromate
1,3-Propane sultone
Propylene oxide (downgraded from 2A)
Progestins
Medroxyprogesterone acetate
á-Propiolactone
Propylthiouracil
Rockwool
Saccharin
Safrole
Slagwool
Sodium ortho-phenylphenate
Sterigmatocystin
Streptozotocin
Styrene
Sulfallate
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD)
Tetrachloroethylene
Textile manufacturing (occupational exposures)
Thiocetamide
4,4'-Thiodianiline
Thiourea
Toluene diisocyanates
ortho-Toluidine
Toxaphene (polychlorinated camphenes)
Trichlormethine (trimustine hydrochloride)
Trp-P-1 (3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5-H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole)
Trp-P-2 (3-Amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole)
Trypan blue
Uracil mustard
Urethane
4-Vinylcyclohexene
4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide
Welding fumes
Wood industries
Carpentry and joinery

REFERENCES
============
International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organisation,
Monographs volumes 1-60, 1972-1994 and Supplement 7 1987.

US Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program,
Sixth Annual Report on Carcinogens, 1991.

It isn't even safe to walk near the beach. I can't even enjoy a good pickle or a cup of coffee.

Dan O.

Shower poison

Submitted by skyhawk on February 17, 2007 - 9:37am.

Dan O. I was overwhelmed by your chemical poison list and surprised that apparently fish oil might do the trick for vinylgirl.

On a lighter not, for my part I thought that I would try to protect myself by taking the following actions, if I can:
Category 1 cut out my schnapps
Category 2 not mentioned, but I'll stay out of the sun
Category 2A no further haircuts
Category 2B no more coffee

There is no question that the information you provided is scary and should be taken seriously.However, unless we want to live like the Neandertalers then it's pretty well a fact that our exposure to these poisonous substances will continue and really can't be avoided. (We are not in control)

Please keep enjoying your walks on the beach and eat a nice pickle anytime you feel like it. Remember, time won't stay still for us.

Just make sure the pickle is

Submitted by bub on February 17, 2007 - 11:07am.


Just make sure the pickle is kosher, or natural..and that it doesn't contain TARTRAZINE

**********************************************************************
"Did A.J.Krapper organize a mass walk-out of latrines?"
-zenGary

Aim for the stars

Submitted by Dan O. on February 18, 2007 - 8:48pm.

I attended the David Suzuki lecture in Hamilton last night. His basic premise is that we should not be voting for any political party this election (soon to come) unless your candidate will give complete answers on what he/she will do to stop global warming and other environmental issues. Vote not based on party but on the answers from your local candidate.

What I got from the whole thing is that we have a relative utopia up here. There are some warts, but we should be aiming "for the stars" on any changes to what exists now. Why not install the "best" sewage treatment? Why not install ozonated water systems? If they were installed will they in fact improve the life of the avergae resident or will they create more development, more pollution, more problems.

If you don't aim high from the start you'll always end up with less than you hoped for.

Dan O.

Suzuki's Not Much FUN

Submitted by Dodge on February 19, 2007 - 1:33am.

So what does Suzuki figure you need to live in utopia in Oliphant? No cars, no boats, no snowmobiles, no motorcycles and no wood heat most likely. No electricity unless the wind is blowing hard. Anything that releases carbon is bad and that pretty much relates to anything that is fun... He would really be upset if he caught you brewing beer. That process releases a lot of carbon dioxide.

I had the priviledge of attending one of his lectures in 1975 while I was an undergrad at U of G. He talked about genetics and science and he was sharp as a tack back then. Gene sequencing was just getting started and he spoke with knowledge and authority. I am so very disappointed with what he has become since those days of idealism and optimism. Quite a difference now he comes across as a pessimistic doomsday preacher trading on a fine reputation made decades ago. Climate change theory is theater for good and bad science tainted with politics. Theater now seems to be what Suziki loves most.

He has changed

Submitted by Dan O. on February 19, 2007 - 10:30pm.

Dodge; he didn't seem too pestimistic as he appears to still have faith in humans to make the right choices but I admit it was more of a sermon than a presentation. You jest about us having a Utopia in this area. In comparison to Toronto which would you prefer?

You don't need to cut out cars, just drive less or get one that's more efficient. Motorcycles are pretty efficient as they go so what's the problem? Snowmobiles and boats; my favorite boat uses a paddle so I'm OK and a snowmobile is an alternate form of transportation in this area. Pretty good on fuel too.

Wood heat can be done without excessive pollution (EPA stoves) and the fuel is renewable. Wind and solar were his prefered options over nuclear. Won't the Bruce be self sufficient when the last of the Ferndale turbines are installed? On the beer, somethings you have to splurge.

Don't forget geothermal Dodge. Even the earth up here has some warmth. You forgot about population density. With the way taxes, water charges and lack of services are going that becomes moot point. If we can just keep spending money on studies and never install anything overdevelopment will never happen.

Back to reality, you have to admit that if we don't do something voluntarily the options will be limited and changes will be forced on us. Remember the cost of gas last summer?

Dan O.

I Have A Wind Generator

Submitted by Dodge on February 20, 2007 - 11:38pm.

Bought it at an auction in Tobermory in 1974 and I figure it was used there in the time 1930 to 1935. I restored it and have had it running and there was a time when I had to know everything about converting moving air to electricity.

But I moved on. I am skilled trades and I work for a large auto manufacturer in Ontario. We need power in our plants and lots of it and even a small blip is a huge problem. Next to us is a plant that melts scrap steel with electricity and makes rebar and angle iron. Along with cement it is the raw material for building the industrial complexes in this province. These complexes are in Alliston and Sarnia, Hamilton and Welland, everywhere and they generate the gross domestic product that keeps the province humming. My point is we can't get along without nuclear power here in Ontario. Few of the anti nukes understand how much power we need.

We cannot meet the Kyoto 2012 targets without causing a lot of damage in Ontario and it is an open discussion whether we can make a difference in fifty years at all because the climate models are just too full of variables. David Suzuki, Nicholas Stern and Al Gore are just a little too far removed from the trenches but Suzuki if true to his scientific training would recognize the problems. Instead he is a proponent of the idea that doing nothing will destroy the economy and meeting Kyoto will save it.. I think we need a middle ground in Canada and Suzuki is not about to join us there.

All the things you listed yes they make a difference and going forward we need to be smart in the way we build and the way we live. I like the idea of wind power as a supplement to the grid and I think Wiatrton -Kepple Airport would be an asset to our communities if it was the basis for an energy park.

Re: Wiarton-Keppel Airport and wind

Submitted by Dan O. on February 25, 2007 - 9:25pm.

Dodge; you've got me envious of your wind generator but I;ll have to wait for a few years. I don't know about your hopes of turning the airport into a wind farm.. It doesn't have the potential that other ares have:

Check out the Ontario Wind Atlas ..

The section around boat lake to Wiarton is better.

As for nuclear energy. It is the most expensive energy available. We still don't have any way to properly store the wastes and the big kicker: The plants are not guarded from lunnies in little planes that want to become martyrs.

Which province do you think exports the most power to the US. Not Quebec, it's Manitoba. We just don't have the infrastructure to bring their excess capacity our way.

As for the industrial complexes. I help make the steel that you use to make your cars from. The capabilities for cogeneration are enormous but the companies want see how the hydro rates will go. A further potential is waste steam for local heating. The major steel plants could all be self sufficient if they wished.

I don't like Kyoto either. Without the US, China and India agreeing to it's controls it's doomed for failure. The only good thing about it is that it's a start.

Dan O.

Outdoing Bruce Nuclear using 'invisible' Lake-Wind Power

Submitted by garym on March 20, 2007 - 2:57pm.

This comment has been moved here.

RE:Clorine in water

Submitted by billywings on March 20, 2007 - 1:28pm.

in England, the state government of New South Wales has adopted a policy to use Oxone and ionization techniques for all water treatment. In effect, this policy has caused the sole use of chlorine to be outlawed. Oxone is a combination of several powerful oxidizers that disinfect water, though not as effectively as chlorine. When used in conjunction with copper and silver electrolytes, however, Oxone is comparable to chlorine as a disinfectant. A small amount of chlorine is still used to “burn out” any remaining bacteria and maintain a blue color in pool water.

Other techniques being researched involve the use of oxone, hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet light, and any combination of the three in conjunction with greatly reduced amounts of chlorine.