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According to a recent study by American scientists, it appears that even when contaminants in tap water do not exceed safety limits, their long-term accumulation in the human body can pose serious health risks. Drinking tap water is more environmentally friendly and usually cheaper than bottled water, and in the Czech Republic the water quality is generally very high. Nevertheless, it may contain harmful substances that you should take into account.
What can be in tap water?
Various types of contaminants can appear in drinking water, for example:
- Residues of fertilizers and pesticides from agriculture
- Heavy metals from pipes
- Residues of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals that wastewater treatment plants cannot remove
- Chlorine used for disinfection, which can, however, form dangerous compounds
- Microplastics, which have recently become an increasingly common problem
Although regulatory authorities monitor the amounts of these substances and set limits that are often stricter than European standards, long-term exposure to these substances can be dangerous.
Cumulative risk – a new view on drinking water
Previously, when assessing water quality, individual contaminants were evaluated separately. However, a recent study by American scientists examined cumulative risk for the first time – that is, what danger the overall mix of chemicals in the water poses. The results showed that even if individual contaminants do not exceed legal limits, their combined effect on human health can be much greater than previously assumed.
Contaminants can accumulate in the body and some of them can react and form even more dangerous compounds. This increases the risk of health problems, especially with long-term drinking of tap water.
Solution? Filtration devices
In light of these findings, it is important to consider how you can improve the quality of the water you drink at home yourself. One of the best solutions is the use of filtration devices, which are available for household use. These devices can effectively remove up to hundreds of different contaminants, including lead, pesticides, heavy metals and hormones.
For example, the AlkaViva ionizer can filter up to 172 contaminants from water, including dangerous substances such as arsenic, industrial chemicals, chlorine and more. Filters of this type will provide you with high-quality, clean and safe water directly from your tap.
Conclusion
Drinking tap water is ecological and saves money, but in the long term it can contain contaminants that are harmful to our health. If you choose to filter the water in your home, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with drinking tap water and ensure a cleaner and safer drinking routine for yourself and your family.
