by Valerie Smith

2/16/2016

Recent headlines have exposed dangerously high lead water conditions all across the country; this is especially true for lower-income citizens, many of them African-American, with crises' in Flint, Michigan, St. Joseph, Louisiana, and Sebring, Ohio to name a few. We may be asking ourselves “Is my water really safe?”

Many of us are familiar with the fact that fluoride has been added to our water supply. Our dentist may have described the compound as preventing tooth decay and cavities, a benefit that we are supposedly lucky to have. What has failed to reach mainstream attention is the fact that fluoride is not a harmless compound at all. We are one of the few countries that fluoridates our water supply with less than 5% of water in Europe receiving similar treatment by comparison. Evidence is building that like lead, fluoride treatment is linked to reduced IQ in infants and children along with other serious health concerns.

This is not the only questionable compound that we are ingesting through water. The most common form of fluoride used in our water is hexafluorosilicic acid, which is frequently contaminated with arsenic, a known carcinogen or cancer causing substance. Up to 18 different unregulated contaminants have been found in about 1 in 3 water samples nationwide including herbicide, solvents, caffeine, antibacterials, metals, antidepressants and chemical compounds called PFC's (Perfluorinated coumpounds). PFC's come in a few varieties and are linked to tumors, neonatal death and toxic effects of the immune, liver, and endocrine systems when studied in animals. The effects of these compounds on human health were almost non-existence as of 2010.

We have little choice in being the case study for these additives if we drink tap water. Evidence against the use of PFC's like PFOA (commonly found in non-stick cookware) is mounting due to instances like the DuPont plant PFC pollution case in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. A 2001 class-action lawsuit against the chemical company by some 80,000 residents was finally settled in late 2015. Scientists have concluded that there is a 'probable link' between PFOA in drinking water and high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

If you too have a concern about consuming potentially health damaging compounds in drinking water consider investing in a reverse osmosis water filter for your home. Also, rather than having to remove fluoride from our water we can speak up, spread the word and petition to get it out of our water supply. Visit fluoridealert.org for more info. Until then, here are a list of the bottled water brands with the lowest levels of fluoride available (less than the average of .11ppm):

·         Aquafina

·         Dansani

·         Propel

·         Very Fine Fruit 2.0

·         Calistoga

·         Crystal Geyser

·         Crystal Spring

We would like to thank Valerie for her contribution to KoolforLife.com. Looking forward to reading her next piece.