Believe it or not,
your water supply contains a lot of particles, minerals, and contaminants which
can have adverse effects on your health if not properly filtered and sanitized.
One of the elements which might be in your water supply is arsenic, a
colorless, odorless, and semimetallic element usually used as wood preservative
and is also present on paints, dyes, and metals.
Arsenic can enter
the water supply when it passes through the earth. According to the Virginia
Department of Public Health, people can also consume arsenic in food, since the
plants take up water containing this element as they grow. While arsenic doesn’t
accumulate in the body, a high intake of this element can cause skin damage and
problems in one’s circulatory system. Furthermore, arsenic can increase your
risk of acquiring cancer.
There are two
types of arsenic, namely organic and inorganic arsenic. The only difference
between the two is that organic arsenic contains carbon while inorganic arsenic
does not. The latter ismore toxic and thus more dangerous. Ingestion of large
amounts of inorganic arsenic can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting.
It can also cause damage to the nervous system, which can eventually lead to
death.
To prevent the adverse
health effects of arsenic, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends using
a reverse osmosis system to sufficiently rid your water supply from this
harmful element. Reverse osmosis systems can filter out arsenic and many other
contaminants, providing you safer and cleaner drinking water.
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