The Connection Between Drinking Filtered Water And Cancer
We all know that water is essential for human survival. However, ensuring the quality of what you are consuming is also important. Due to rising concerns regarding the quality of tap water, people have started drinking filtered water as a safer alternative. It is water that is specially treated with the help of a water filter to eliminate all the toxic contaminants from it.
However, there is a debate among people about the connection between drinking filtered water and cancer. In this article, we will be trying to understand its connection with cancer, along with the health risks. We are quite hopeful that this is going to be worth the reading.
The Importance of Filtered Water Explained!
Filtered water has become a fundamental necessity all around the world due to tap water contamination.
Whether it is for cooking, drinking, cleaning, or bathing, filtered water is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. Filtered water is completely free of toxic contaminants and impurities like bacteria, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals, sediments, etc.
Due to this reason, it is considered a healthier and more safer option than other types of water, especially tap or regular water.
Connection of Filtered Water & Cancer
Some studies suggest that drinking filtered water can help in reducing the overall risk of different types of cancer like bladder cancer, colon cancer, etc. However, some studies also found no significant impact of drinking filtered water and reduced cancer risk.
However, it is essential to note that the finding may vary depending on the type of filter used for producing filtered water, and individual differences in water consumption patterns.
Despite the mixed findings, we believe there is much more research needed to figure out the potential connection between drinking filtered water and cancer. Further research could explore the potential effects of different types of filters and their mechanism through which filtered water can contribute to reduced risk of cancer.
So, we think, it would be if you get yourself familiar with different types of water filtration systems.
Common Types of Water Filters
Below are commonly used types of water filters.
1. Activated carbon filters:
These are the most commonly used water filters in households. They work by absorption, where the contaminants are trapped on the surface of activated carbon material. The good thing about them is that they are highly effective in removing organic compounds, chlorine, and certain heavy metals from the water.
As per our observations, the porous structure of activated carbon filters allows for a large surface area, enhancing their adsorption capacity.
Spoiler Alert: These filters will not remove all kinds of impurities/contaminants from the water. Besides this, their effectiveness will also start to decrease with time, which means regular maintenance will be needed.
2. Reverse osmosis (RO) filters:
These are the most popular types of water filters that use a semi-permeable membrane to eliminate a variety of impurities from the water. The contaminated water is forced to go through the membrane, allowing only pure molecules of the water to pass through it, while blocking all the impurities in it.
RO filters are up to 99% effective at eliminating dissolved solids, heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. But keep in mind, along with toxic contaminants, these filters also remove good minerals from the water.
Just like carbon filters, reverse osmosis systems also require regular maintenance.
3. UV filters:
As the name says, these filters make use of ultraviolet radiation to efficiently treat the contaminated water. These filters remove bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and other microorganisms from the water.
One thing you need to know is that, UV filters do not remove chemicals from the water; instead, they solely focus on disinfection. We think this is the reason why they are generally used in conjunction with other filtration systems.
4. Distillation Filters:
These filters involve boiling the water until it converts into steam, and then turning that steam into purified water, leaving all the impurities behind. These filters effectively remove a number of contaminants, including bacteria, heavy metals, and certain chemicals as well.
However, it is important to note that distillation filters can be energy-intensive and time-consuming as compared to other filters discussed above. Besides, they also remove beneficial minerals from the water.
Note: Every type of filter is designed to remove specific contaminants from the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can drinking filtered water actually help in reducing the risk of cancer?
There are multiple studies that suggest drinking filtered water can reduce different types of cancer, including bladder, colon, etc. However, scientists and medical professional are still trying their best to come up with more credible proofs.
Is drinking filtered water totally safe to drink?
Yes…drinking filtered water is generally safe to drink, as it is free from toxic contaminants and impurities. However, the quality of filtered water may vary depending on the type of filter used for filtering water.
Due to this reason, it is recommended to choose the most appropriate filtration system that efficiently removes contaminants that your water contains.
What types of contaminants are effective at removing different kinds of contaminants?
Different types of filters are effective at removing various contaminants. For instance, activated carbon filters are excellent at removing organic compounds, chlorine, and some heavy metals. Whereas, reverse osmosis is good at removing dissolved solids, heavy metals, pesticides, and many more.
On the other hand, UV filters are effective in eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from the contaminated water. An ion change filtration system efficiently removes heavy metals like lead and mercury.
Final Thoughts
Filtered water is water that is specially treated with the help of water filters to make it completely safe from harmful contaminants. This type of water has a strong connection in reducing the overall impact of dangerous diseases, one of which includes cancer.
In this blog post, we have explained the connection of consuming filtered water with cancer. We have tried our best to provide you with every essential detail that you need to know, and we hope you will find this article beneficial.
