Does a Berkey shower filter make sense for your home if you're served by municipal water? It absolutely does, and there's a number of reasons why. While many are under the impression that filtering their drinking water is sufficient for bodily protection, the reality is that our skin and lungs can absorb these same dangerous chemicals and toxins as we bathe in them everyday. As Rutgers University researchers have found, "Studies show we take in about the same amount of harmful chemicals from showering as we do from drinking water."

There are many toxins that can be dangerous to the body when showered in. One of the most common chemicals that tend to cause problems is chlorine. Chlorine is used extensively by municipal water townships to kill bacteria and pathogens keeping the water safe to drink from the distribution plant to the faucet. However, exposure to chlorine repeatedly has shown the potential to cause physical and medical problems, especially to children and those with pre-disposed sensitivities to the chemical. The American Journal of Public Health confirms that up to two-thirds of the harmful effects of chlorine are due to inhalation and skin absorption while showering.

Absorption Through The Skin

Were you aware that your skin is the largest organ of your body? It's continually giving off sweat and toxins yet also absorbing whatever it comes in contact with. This is called dermal (percutaneous, skin) absorption, and is a global term that describes the transport of chemicals from the outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the systemic circulation. As you shower, your pores open and your body more readily absorbs chlorine and other contaminants that may be in the water. Chlorine absorption through the skin has been shown to cause many skin irritations, some as serious as eczema.

Absorption Through the Lungs

We are all keenly aware of the dangers of inhaling cigarette smoke and other dangerous chemicals, so what about the steam from your shower? The hot water, combined with steam, causes the body to take in far more chlorine than it would by just drinking water. The steam can contain up to 20 times the concentration of chlorine that tap water contains because it evaporates at a lower temperature than water. One estimate is that during a 20 minute shower, a person takes in the same amount of chlorine as drinking two quarts of water. This chlorine vapor concentration is also proportional to how confined your shower or bathroom is and increases the smaller it's square footage. The chloroform gas in the air can cause bronchitis, asthma, and has shown links to an increased risk of cancer.

Other Effects of Showering in Chlorinated Water

What are some of the effects of chlorine on the body? One of the most common results is dry and brittle hair. Mild chlorine toxicity may include headaches, eye, skin, or airway irritation, sore throat, and cough. Higher toxicity levels may also include chest tightness. Several years ago a friend shared with me that every time she cleaned the bathtub, she would suffer from breathing problems and exhaustion. She later discovered the cause to be the the chlorine bleach and ammonia reacting to give off a chlorine gas very much like steam from the shower.

A Berkey Shower Filter for Protection

The solution to the damage chlorine can cause is to attach a special shower filter designed to remove the chlorine before it ever touches your skin or reaches your lungs. We repeatedly get feedback from customers who happily report that their hair becomes softer and stops breaking and splitting shorty after they begin use. Once they become accustomed to the difference a berkey shower filter makes, many customers loathe the thought of taking a shower without one.

When you start to use the Berkey shower filter you will be removing up to 95% of the chlorine, as well as reducing hydrogen sulfide, microorganisms, scale, and water-soluble heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and iron. Berkey shower filters kill bacteria, inhibit the growth of algae and fungi, while also reducing lime scale and mold. This means your shower and tub area will stay cleaner, and potentially reduce needed cleanings.