Summary

A recent meta-analysis of 30 studies involving 90,000 participants found that water chlorination levels common in the US and EU likely increase bladder cancer risk by 33% and colorectal cancer risk by 15%.

Chlorine reacts with organic matter to form trihalomethanes (THM), toxic byproducts present in nearly all public water systems.

Although chlorine disinfection has reduced waterborne diseases, these findings pose regulatory challenges.

Alternatives exist but are costly. Experts recommend continued tap water use with effective filtration, such as granulated activated carbon.

  • @Nikelui
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    255 days ago

    Not to rain on your parade, but you have to be careful with your diet if you are drinking distilled water because you are not getting the essential electrolites contained in mineral water (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium)

    • @Pencilnoob
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      5 days ago

      To be honest I haven’t yet seen a study that indicates that it’s actually unhealthy to drink distilled water if you’re otherwise eating a healthy balanced diet. The only study that seems to indicate that it’s a problem is if a person is already seriously malnourished and the trace amounts of minerals in water was actually making up a significant portion of their intake of those minerals.

      I eat several cups of green vegetables a day which has a thousand times more of all of those minerals then tap water. I’m not concerned that missing out on a few micrograms of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium is going to cause a problem if I’m otherwise getting all of those by the milligram in my food.

      If you have studies to show otherwise I’d be happy to see them. I did buy a mineral supplement to put in water but it makes it taste pretty salty so I haven’t been using it very much.

      • @Nikelui
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        5 days ago

        if you’re otherwise eating a healthy balanced diet.

        That was the point, if you are aware of it you should be fine.

    • @[email protected]
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      14 days ago

      I’ve been drinking ro water for a couple years now and my understanding is the minerals in water are mostly negligible and if you rely on them then you have serious deficiencies in your diet.