What's Wrong With
Chlorine?
Chlorine, # 17 on the Periodic Table of Elements, is, by itself, a
yellow-green poisonous gas. It is an inorganic
element that cannot exist by itself in nature but needs to bond to another
element, the most common being sodium, hence, sodium chloride, or salt. In
fact,sending an electrical charge through a salt-water solution, disrupting the
bond between chlorine and sodium, produces commercial chlorine. The free
chlorine is then captured and used for numerous household and industrial
applications.
About 180 years ago, scientists, while researching the prevention of
typhoid in the water supply, discovered that chlorine, bonding to organic
substances, such as bacteria, killed it and rendered the water
potable. Because
of the corrosive effect chlorine had on organic matter, it was used as a
horrendously effective weapon during World War One. By nature, the
gas, which is heavier than air, stayed close to the ground and destroyed
the soldier's lungs. Today, chlorine is still used as the primary method
for disinfecting municipal water supplies, swimming
pools, and whitening laundry.
Chlorine's attraction to, and corrosion of organic material doesn't end at
the bacteria in the water. Chlorine also attacks your hair, skin, and
lungs, as they are organic as well. Chlorine can leave your hair dry and
brittle and make your skin flaky and itchy. It can also trigger negative
reactions in children, the elderly, and people with
chlorine-sensitivity.
Studies have shown that for health reasons it is best to remove
chlorine from drinking water. Why not do the same with our shower
and bath water.
