Aquatru’s New Shower Filter Review ( and why a shower filter is a solid “ low tox living” tool)
( for those with little time: this is the link to the shower filter I am using and liking)
It’s no secret that City water is in no way shape or form low tox
Amongst the many chemicals used and/ or found in city water there is chlorine and chloramine: 2 chemicals that are used for disinfecting purposes ( essentially every single public water system will use either one or the other)
Studies have shown that our skin can absorb more chlorine from a 10-minute shower than from drinking 8 full glasses of tap water
Which is why these chemicals often affect your :
hair quality,
skin health
But more concerning are the potential health concerns from exposure to these chemicals:
chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic material found in surface water, forming disinfection by-products. and can created trihalomethanes (THMs)
- THMS can produce 4 chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.
THMs are directly linked to increase risk of bladder cancer - and studies have shown a significant uptake of THMs through showering & bathing (some point to a higher intake vie dermal exposure than drinking water)
A study from Canada found “Those exposed to chlorinated surface water for 35 or more years had an increased risk of bladder cancer compared with those exposed for less than 10 years
THMs are classified as
Probably human carcinogens linked to not only bladder cancer but also , colorectal and endometrial cancer ( researchers to hypothesize that exposure to THMs for people with the GG genotype may exacerbate bladder inflammation, which may in turn increase risk of bladder cancer. More mechanistic research into these interactions is needed)
CHLORAMINE
Other water utilities are using chloramine (chlorine + ammonia) . In California, for example, two-thirds of the water companies use chloramines to disinfect their drinking water, LA has reportedly completely switched to chloramine.
Chloraminated vapor from showers, baths, hot tubs, dishwashers, and other household appliances contains volatilized chemicals that can be inhaled and cause irritation to the respiratory tract.
The toxic exposure to chemicals (like chloramine) in water is greater from taking a shower than from drinking the same water mostly because Inhaled chloraminated vapor can enter the bloodstream directly through the lungs, bypasses the digestive tract where it would be broken down and excreted
In a study by Zierler, et al (PDF, 821 KB), it was found that there was an increase in deaths from influenza and pneumonia in the communities that used chloramine. (Communities in Massachusetts that used chlorine for disinfection were compared to those that used chloramine). The Reason is that Chloramine exposure damages lung mucosa, making the lungs more susceptible to allergens and infections.
Chloramine tap water can cause severe skin reactions: Chloramine can aggravate other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Rashing, itching , dry skin, flaking
Because we’re renting a home I don’t have a whole house filter which would “ clean up” our shower water so I have been trying out Aquatru’s new shower filter for the last month and I’m happy to report that I’m already seeing improvements in my overall skin health; less dry and less red.
What makes this particular filter different is :
a 4-Stage Filtration Technology made of a Proprietary blend of powerful filtration materials including Copper-Zinc Alloy, Calcium Sulfite, & Catalytic Carbon that is effective to filter out and reduce chlorine and chloamine.
The filter has been tested for reduction of free chlorine and chloramine. The concentration of free available chlorine in water entering the system was reduced to a concentration less than or equal to the permissible limit for water leaving the system.
Pending certifications: while they have tested the filter it is currently being “ officially” tested to NSF 177 certification standards for delivering consistent chlorine & chloramine filtration for the entire 90-day filter life
And on a superficial ( but also important because after all it is your shower!!) note;
4-spray settings for a customizable, spa-like experience
filter changes are easy ( important because if you’re not regularly changing them, the shower filter is a waste of money and not going to do anything!) : filters should be changed every 90 days
The design is modern and sleek
Important to note: * if your main concern are other chemicals in water like PFAS for example then the ideal would be to install a whole house filter. I dont know of any shower filter that has been tested to remove much more than chlorine and chloramine effectively
I will update when the official certification is given!
Sources
https://dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2022/disinfection-byproducts-drinking-water
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1474331&blobtype=pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4824718/
https://dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2022/disinfection-byproducts-drinking-water