How safe is the water your family drinks and what are the most common contaminants?

There is a high chance that you are ingesting many chemicals and pollutants, and this could be affecting your health more than you might realize. While a healthy diet and physical exercise are very important, having the best possible water quality can be just as important, if not more so.

We will mention some of the potentially harmful elements, such as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), endocrine-disrupting chemicals, heavy metals, and fluoride, that find their way into our water.

Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) present a potential health risk, as many of them are known carcinogens. Herbicides, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals have been found in most public water supply networks and even in well water sources. This is due to agricultural runoff as well as general pollution, including hydraulic fracturing, and many of these chemicals have been linked to liver damage, reproductive system problems, kidney damage, and much more. These chemicals are primarily removed using activated carbon filters.

Endocrine disruptors are hormone-disrupting chemicals such as BPA (Bisphenol A), dioxin, atrazine, phthalates, perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), mood stabilizers, pharmaceutical drugs, and recreational drugs, to name just a few, which can interfere with or mimic hormones in the body. These are believed to be found in increasingly large quantities in our drinking water. This includes developmental problems during pregnancy, developmental issues in adolescent males (undescended testicles), and an estimated 42% worldwide decline in sperm count, likely due to these potentially endocrine-disrupting chemicals and similar pharmaceutical agents. Our drinking water may be contributing significantly to this, as these substances are found in surface waters throughout the country. These types of chemicals are also known to affect animals in their water sources.

Heavy metals, such as lead from old water pipes, mercury, copper, iron, manganese, etc., have all been linked to health concerns and are still found in public water as well as in some well water sources. Lead exposure affects almost every organ and is associated with a range of health complications, including brain damage, low IQ, hearing loss, miscarriages, premature births, high blood pressure, kidney damage, and nervous system problems. Lead has also caused a decrease in sex hormones in animals and disruption of hormonal signaling that regulates the stress system in humans, impairing the body's ability to manage stress.

Fluoride is an additive in some public water networks, which remains highly controversial, as many people believe it to be a contaminant (and rightfully so), yet it is said to be added to our public water to reduce tooth decay, particularly in children. The problem is that many people believe medicating an entire population is not a good idea, as high levels of fluoride have been linked to issues such as thyroid disorders, bone fractures, impaired brain development and function, and other serious complications. This chemical was recently classified as a neurotoxin in the medical journal The Lancet Neurology, placing it in the same category as lead, arsenic, and mercury. Even if fluoride is necessary for oral health, it leads to toxicity in large amounts, and it is difficult to know whether you are receiving too much — something that happens to many people.

There are also many living organisms in our water. For example, viruses and bacteria are frequently found in our water. These living organisms can cause many serious illnesses, such as diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, organ failure, etc.

Pesticides (Herbicides) are used to keep lawns green and free of insects. Many families need to hire a specialized company to spray pesticides on the lawn and around the house. Unfortunately, this can inevitably pollute groundwater. The same occurs on agricultural land in the area. These pesticides can migrate through the soil and ultimately reach groundwater. Even if you have your own well, you cannot avoid exposure to pesticides.

Many people believe that pharmaceutical drugs are not a problem when flushed down the drain. However, it is so common for people to flush unused prescription and over-the-counter medications down the toilet or simply throw them in the trash, allowing them to reach the drainage system. Unfortunately, these drugs will seep into our groundwater or rivers and will eventually end up in our drinking water. If babies, toddlers, and children are exposed to these elements, it is truly concerning. Both their health and their development can be affected.

Purification systems using reverse osmosis offer an effective solution for eliminating these contaminants, providing a number of benefits:

• Clean and great-tasting water: You get pure drinking water with a better taste and clearer appearance than tap water, ideal for drinking, cooking, and preparing beverages.
• Reduces the risk of illness: Eliminating contaminants from water can reduce the risk of developing diseases associated with exposure to them, such as digestive problems, kidney issues, thyroid conditions, and even cancer.
• Protects household appliances: Purified water reduces limescale and sediment buildup in household appliances that use water (espresso machines, steam irons, kettles, etc.), extending their lifespan. 
• Eco-friendly solution: Reverse osmosis purification systems do not use chemicals and produce a minimal amount of wastewater, making them a more environmentally friendly option than bottled water.
• Cost-effective investment: Although the initial cost may be higher, in the long run it is a worthwhile investment, given the reduced costs of bottled water and the savings generated by fewer appliance repairs.

Conclusion: Choose a reverse osmosis purification system to enjoy clean, healthy, and great-tasting water every day! The system we recommend is FILTRO INFINITY.

Remember, if you don't have a water filter, YOU are the water filter!