subject: A Shower Head Water Filter - Why You Need More Than a Charcoal Filter to Block Toxic Chemicals [print this page] A shower head water filter is a simple device usually designed to reduce contaminants like chlorine. Many people buy them because the smell of chlorine is bothersome. But, there are other reasons to invest in this product.
Depending on where you live, copper or lead could be present in your water. Traces of these metals can change the appearance and color of your hair.
Lead can actually be absorbed through the skin. If you happen to enjoy soaking in the bathtub or you have children, you should be concerned about that.
Although lead is not normally used in pipes or welds anymore, older homes may still have pipes that contain it. In older cities, the infrastructures have yet to be completely replaced. In addition, it is a naturally occurring mineral. So, there are many reasons that lead could be a problem.
Traces of copper are not dangerous to our health; its removal is simply a cosmetic benefit.
In order to reduce these metallic traces, a shower head water filter must include an ion exchange step. Although it is not an expensive step, most companies don't include it. Their ideology is that if you can't see it or feel it, it doesn't matter.
Wrong.
In point of fact, ion exchange does actually improve the way that your hair and skin feels. The metal ions are exchanged for ions of sodium and potassium. It's almost like showering in a warm spring.
Other steps that are often left out are the ones that will reduce the water's THM content. Copper might not be dangerous. Lead might not be present. But, if you can smell chlorine, then THMs are there.
Special filtering media is necessary to reduce THMs. In most cases, when you buy a shower head water filter, the only thing that you are getting is a carbon or charcoal block.
That's fine for reducing the smell of chlorine. Chemicals will be trapped on the surface of the block, as long as you change it regularly. But, carbon will not trap THMs.
The risk of exposure is an increased risk of cancer. When the water's hot, THMs become airborne, just like the steam. When you inhale, the chemicals make a beeline to the bloodstream.
In addition to the risk of cancer, there are the detrimental effects of exposure to chloroform. A recent report from the EPA indicated that the air in most homes has some level of chloroform gas.
A good shower head water filter will trap the chemical before it enters the air or your bloodstream. Read the product performance data to be sure.
A Shower Head Water Filter - Why You Need More Than a Charcoal Filter to Block Toxic Chemicals
