Is the chlorine in our drinking water acting as
catalyst triggering tumor development both in atherosclerosis and cancer?
The addition of chlorine to our drinking water started in the late
1890’s and had wide acceptance in the United States by 1920. Joseph
Price, M. D, wrote a fascinating yet largely ignored book in the late
1960’s, entitled Coronaries Cholesterol. Chlorine, Dr Price believes, is
the
primary and essential cause of atherosclerosis is chlorine. "Nothing
can negate the incontrovertible fact the basic cause of atherosclerosis
and resulting entities, such as heart attacks and most common forms of
stokes is chlorine. The chlorine contained in processed drinking
water." (1)
This conclusion is based on experiments using chlorine in the drinking
water of chickens. The results: 95% of the chickens given chlorine added
to distilled water developed atherosclerosis within a few months.
Atherosclerosis, heart attacks and the resulting problems of hardening
of the arteries and plaque formation is really the last step in a series
of biochemical malfunctions. Price points out it takes ten to twenty years
before symptoms in humans become evident In many ways, this is reminiscent
of cancer which can take twenty to thirty years to develop.
Can chlorine be linked to cancer too? In the chlorination process
itself, chlorine combines with natural organic matter decaying vegetation
to form potent cancer causing trihalomethanes (THM’s) or haloforms.
Trihalomethanes collectively include such carcinogens as chloroforms,
bromoforms carbon tectachloride, bischlorothane and others. The amount of
THM’s in our drinking water is theoretically regulated by the EPA.
Although the maximum amount allowed by law is 100 ppb, a 1976 study showed
31 of 112 municipal water systems exceeded this limit. (2)
According to some studies by 1975, the number of chemical contaminants
found in finished drinking water exceeded 300. (3) In 1984 over 700
chemicals had been found in our drinking water The EPA has targeted 129 as
posing the greatest threat to our health, Currently the EPA enforces
federal standards for 34 drinking water contaminants. In July, 1990 they
proposed adding 23 new ones and expects this list increasing to 85 in
1992. (4)
Another report claims the picture is much worse. According to Troubled
Waters on Tap "over 2100 contaminants have been detected in U. S.
drinking water since 1974 with 190 known or suspected to cause adverse
health effects at certain concentration levels. In total, 97 carcinogens
and suspected carcinogens, 82 mutagens and suspected mutagens, 28 acute
and chronic toxic contaminants and 23 tumor promoters have been detected
in U. S. drinking water since 1974. The remaining 90% of the organic
matter present in drinking water has not been identified by testing
to-date.
Compounds in these concentration could pose serious toxic effects,
either alone or in combination with other chemicals found in drinking
water. Overall, available scientific evidence continues to substantiate
the link between consumption of toxins in drinking water and serious
public health concerns, Studies have strengthened the association between
ingestion of toxins and elevated cancer mortality risks"(5)
Studies in New Orleans, Louisiana; Eric County, New York, Washington
County Maryland, Ohio County, Ohio reveal high levels of haloforms or THM
‘s in drinking water The result – higher levels of cancer. (6) (7) (8)
(9)
‘The continued use of chlorine as the main drinking water
disinfectant in the United States only adds to the organic chemical
contamination of drinking water supplies. The current federal standard
regulation of trihalomethanes do not adequately protect water consumers
from the multitude of other organic chlorination by-products that have
been shown in many studies to be mutagenic and toxic’(5)
"Chlorine is so dangerous" according to biologist/chemist Dr.
Herbert Schwartz," that Is should be banned. Putting chlorine In the
water is like starting a time bomb. Cancer heart trouble, premature
senility, both mental and physical are conditions attributable to
chlorine, treated water supplies. It is making us grow old before our time
by producing symptoms of ageing such as hardening of the arteries. I
believe if chlorine were now proposed for the first time to be used in
drinking water it would be banned by the Food and Drug
Administration."(10)
Many municipalities are experimenting with a variety of disinfectants
to either take the place of chlorine or to be used in addition, as a way
of cutting down on the amount of chlorine added to the water However these
alternatives such as chlorine dioxide, bromine chloride, chloromines,
etc., are just as dangerous as chlorine. We’ re replacing one toxic
chemical with another.
On the positive side, some cities are starting to use aeration carbon
filtration, ultraviolet light and ozone as safe alternatives to chemical
disinfectants. But the number of cities and the number of people getting
water from these methods is minimal.
How can chlorination be linked to heart disease and cancer? In Super
Nutrition for Healthy Hearts Dr Richard Passwater shows how "the
origin of heart disease is akin to the origin of cancer" Chlorination
could very well be a key factor linking these two major diseases Chlorine
creates THM's and haloforms. These potent chemical pollutants can trigger
the production of excess free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals cause
cell damage. Excess free radicals can cause normal smooth muscle cells in
the arterial wall to go haywire, to mutate. The fibrous plaque
consequently formed is essentially a benign tumor. (11) Unfortunately,
this tumor is linked with the origin of heart disease.
If your drinking water is chlorinated, don’t drink it You can
purchase very effective filters which will
remove 99% of the THM’s or purchase proper bottled spring water. Just
this simple safeguard may save thousands from heart disease and cancer -
the two major degenerative killers in the United States.
-
Price JM. Coronaries Cholesterol/Chlorine. NY: Pyramid, 1969.
-
Maugh TH. New Study Links Chlorination and Cancer Science 1983; 211
(February 13): 694.
-
Wilkins JR, Reiches NA, Kruse CW. Organic Chemical Contaminants in
Drinking Water and Cancer AM. J. Epidemology 1979; 114: 179-190.
-
U.S Water News. EPA Seeking to Expand Number of Drinking Water
Contaminants to 34. August 1990: 8
-
Conacher D. Troubled Waters on Tap Organic Chemicals in Public
Drinking Water Systems and the Failure of Regulation. Wash D. C:
Center for Study of Responsive Law, 1988: 114.
-
Page T, Harris RH, Epstein SS. Drinking Water and Cancer Morality in
Louisiana. Science 1976; 193: 55-57.
-
Gottlieb DG, Osborne RH. Premiminary Report on Nationwide Study of
Drinking Water and Cardiovascular Diseases. J. Environmental Pathology
and Toxicology. 1980; 3: 65-76.
-
Carlo GL, Mettlin CJ. Cancer Incidence and Trihalomethane
Concentrations in a Public Water System. AM. J. Public Health 1980; 70
(May): 523-525
-
Wilkins JR, Comstock GW. Source of Drinking Water at Home and
Site-Specific Cancer Incidence in Washington County, Maryland. AM J.
Epidemology. 1981; 114: 178-190.
-
Dons Bach KW, Walker M. Drinking Water. Huntingdon Beach, CA:
Int’l Institute of Natural Health Sciences, 1981.
-
Passwater R. Supernutrition for Healthy Hearts. NY: Jova 1978.
