U.S. drinking water is contaminated with a toxic chemical that your own government calls a "probable carcinogen."
So what's that same government doing about it? Same things as usual: Nothing!
The chemical is called hexavalent chromium, and if the name sounds a little familiar then you've probably seen the film "Erin Brokovich." It's the toxic compound that set off her battle with Pacific Gas & Electric after it was found in the groundwater of Hinkley, California.
Now, we all may as well be living in Hinkley -- because tests by the Environmental Working Group on water in 35 cities across the country found the chemical in 31 of them.
Twenty-five of those cities had hexavalent chromium levels in excess of limits being proposed by California. And if you're in Norman, Oklahoma, congratulations -- you're drinking 200 times that proposed limit.
We have to go by California's proposed limit because the EPA doesn't have one -- proposed or otherwise.
And that's where this gets really bizarre... because while the EPA doesn't set limits for hexavalent chromium, it does care about total chromium levels.
In other words, it lumps this toxic compound into the same category as the essential mineral trivalent chromium.
One is needed by the body to control blood glucose levels, the other might give you cancer, wreck your kidneys and liver, and maybe even kill you -- but it's all the same to the EPA. How much sense does that make?
But let's look on the bright side here: Hexavalent chromium probably isn't the worst thing in your water right now. Iit's positively healthy next to the rocket fuel, cocaine, aspartame, hormone drugs, and more regularly found in U.S. drinking water -- and I'm not talking about isolated incidents here.
If you are trusting in local or federal governments to protect your water supply, you should think again, and do it right away.
More later,
Sam/Nutriteam
www.nutriteam.com
www.steamdistiller.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Waste Water is Your Drinking Water
Every hour, an enormous quantity and variety of human-made chemicals, having reached the end of their useful lifespan, flood into wastewater treatment plants. These large-scale processing facilities, however, are designed only to remove nutrients, turbidity and oxygen-depleting human waste, and not the multitude of chemicals put to residential, institutional, commercial and industrial use.
So what happens to these chemicals, some of which may be toxic to humans and the environment? Do they get destroyed during wastewater treatment or do they wind up in the environment with unknown consequences?
So what happens to these chemicals, some of which may be toxic to humans and the environment? Do they get destroyed during wastewater treatment or do they wind up in the environment with unknown consequences?
Check out this Science Daily link to learn more:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101221131554.htm
More later,
Sam/Nutriteam
www.nutriteam.com
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Coal for Christmas?
The aftermath of burning a mountain of coal isn't pretty. It's not just the ash itself; it's also the toxic elements that have been purified by fire out of the "fossilized sunshine."
Those toxic elements come along for the ride when the coal ash spills, like it did near Kingston, Tenn., on December 22, 2008. The "Christmas coal ash spill" was the largest such disaster in U.S. history and covered more than a square kilometer of land before the roughly 4 billion liters of slurry ended up in the Emory and Clinch rivers. Those stretches of river effectively died.
The rivers are now recovering, thanks to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)—a government-owned corporation that runs power plants throughout that region—which may ultimately spend more than a billion dollars to clean up its coal ash mess. Even so, a scientific survey found arsenic and other contaminants at high levels in water in the rivers sediment 18 months later.
It would seem obvious, given the scale of the clean up and its impacts, that such coal ash would be considered hazardous waste.
It is not. Instead, it is put to "beneficial use" in products such as roadbeds, cement and wallboard. It's even added to soil. And when it's not being used, some companies simply dump it back into the mines from whence it first came.
Unfortunately, the toxic metals in the ash have a tendency to interact with groundwater and percolate into drinking supplies. The only way to prevent that is to dispose of the ash in specially lined landfills to prevent such leaching—something that would be required if coal ash were deemed hazardous waste.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been mulling over whether to reclassify coal ash as hazardous waste even though its analysis of the constituents of coal ash leaves no question. But the U.S. produces more than 100 million metric tons of the stuff every year and those charged with disposing of this massive amount of waste are not disposed to face additional hurdles to finding a place to get rid of it.
And that means that coal ash continues to pile up in more than 580 sites across the country, including elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley. After all, the TVA alone generates more than 6 million metric tons of such ash every year. In fact, just one month after the Christmas coal ash spill near Kingston, the TVA spilled some 37,000 liters of coal ash slurry in Alabama near Scottsboro.
This article was derived from a newsblog on Scientific American web site,
December 22, 2010.
More later,
Sam/Nutriteam
www.nutriteam
Those toxic elements come along for the ride when the coal ash spills, like it did near Kingston, Tenn., on December 22, 2008. The "Christmas coal ash spill" was the largest such disaster in U.S. history and covered more than a square kilometer of land before the roughly 4 billion liters of slurry ended up in the Emory and Clinch rivers. Those stretches of river effectively died.
The rivers are now recovering, thanks to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)—a government-owned corporation that runs power plants throughout that region—which may ultimately spend more than a billion dollars to clean up its coal ash mess. Even so, a scientific survey found arsenic and other contaminants at high levels in water in the rivers sediment 18 months later.
It would seem obvious, given the scale of the clean up and its impacts, that such coal ash would be considered hazardous waste.
It is not. Instead, it is put to "beneficial use" in products such as roadbeds, cement and wallboard. It's even added to soil. And when it's not being used, some companies simply dump it back into the mines from whence it first came.
Unfortunately, the toxic metals in the ash have a tendency to interact with groundwater and percolate into drinking supplies. The only way to prevent that is to dispose of the ash in specially lined landfills to prevent such leaching—something that would be required if coal ash were deemed hazardous waste.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been mulling over whether to reclassify coal ash as hazardous waste even though its analysis of the constituents of coal ash leaves no question. But the U.S. produces more than 100 million metric tons of the stuff every year and those charged with disposing of this massive amount of waste are not disposed to face additional hurdles to finding a place to get rid of it.
And that means that coal ash continues to pile up in more than 580 sites across the country, including elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley. After all, the TVA alone generates more than 6 million metric tons of such ash every year. In fact, just one month after the Christmas coal ash spill near Kingston, the TVA spilled some 37,000 liters of coal ash slurry in Alabama near Scottsboro.
This article was derived from a newsblog on Scientific American web site,
December 22, 2010.
More later,
Sam/Nutriteam
www.nutriteam
Monday, December 20, 2010
Cancer Causing Chromium in Water
Here's another good reason to clean up your water with the best known system,
a water distiller.
Carcinogenic hexavalent chromium, the "Erin Brockovich chemical" was found in the tap water of 31 cities out of a total of 35 tested by The Environmental Working Group. The scientists estimate that at least 74 million people in the USA in 42 states regularly drink chromium-tainted water, and a considerable proportion of it is in the carcinogenic hexavalent form.
Hexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen. Some workers are exposed to the chemical, and exposure is known to sometimes occur among those who handle chromate-containing products, as well as those who arc weld stainless steel. The European Union has the world's strictest laws regarding hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium use in the European Union in electronic equipment, for example, is largely prohibited by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive.
Highest levels of hexavalent chromium in tap water were found in Norman; Oklahoma, Riverside; California, and Honolulu; Hawaii. Safety limits proposed by California regulators were exceeded in samples from 25 US cities, the scientists revealed.
Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6 in drinking water shows "clear evidence of carcinogenic activity" in animal studies, significantly raising the likelihood of the development of gastrointestinal tumors.
An EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) draft toxicological review this year also found that tap water tainted with hexavalent chromium is "likely to be carcinogenic to humans".
A public health goal of 0.06 ppb (parts per billion) was proposed by Californian authorities in 2009, in an attempt to protect humans from cancer risk. The aim was to eventually set this limit nationwide.
Despite growing evidence of the dangers of hexavalent chromium in tap water, the EPA has done nothing about legal limit requirements. Water utility companies don't even have to test for levels in their tap water.
The average hexavalent chromium levels in the tested tap water was 0.18 ppb, compared to the recommended 0.06 ppb.
Top five cities tested:
With so many tens of millions of Americans exposed to hexavalent chromium on a daily bases, the Environmental Working Group is urging the EPA to act - to set a legal limit on chromium-6, and make water utility companies regularly test levels of it in their tap water.
In a communiqué, the Environmental Working Group wrote:
a water distiller.
Carcinogenic hexavalent chromium, the "Erin Brockovich chemical" was found in the tap water of 31 cities out of a total of 35 tested by The Environmental Working Group. The scientists estimate that at least 74 million people in the USA in 42 states regularly drink chromium-tainted water, and a considerable proportion of it is in the carcinogenic hexavalent form.
Hexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen. Some workers are exposed to the chemical, and exposure is known to sometimes occur among those who handle chromate-containing products, as well as those who arc weld stainless steel. The European Union has the world's strictest laws regarding hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium use in the European Union in electronic equipment, for example, is largely prohibited by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive.
Highest levels of hexavalent chromium in tap water were found in Norman; Oklahoma, Riverside; California, and Honolulu; Hawaii. Safety limits proposed by California regulators were exceeded in samples from 25 US cities, the scientists revealed.
Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6 in drinking water shows "clear evidence of carcinogenic activity" in animal studies, significantly raising the likelihood of the development of gastrointestinal tumors.
An EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) draft toxicological review this year also found that tap water tainted with hexavalent chromium is "likely to be carcinogenic to humans".
A public health goal of 0.06 ppb (parts per billion) was proposed by Californian authorities in 2009, in an attempt to protect humans from cancer risk. The aim was to eventually set this limit nationwide.
Despite growing evidence of the dangers of hexavalent chromium in tap water, the EPA has done nothing about legal limit requirements. Water utility companies don't even have to test for levels in their tap water.
The average hexavalent chromium levels in the tested tap water was 0.18 ppb, compared to the recommended 0.06 ppb.
Top five cities tested:
- Norman, Oklahoma, population - 89,952
Hexavalent chromium level 12.9 ppb - Honolulu, Hawaii: population - 661,004
Hexavalent chromium level 2.00 ppb - Riverside, California, population - 280,832
Hexavalent chromium level 1.69 ppb - Madison, Wisconsin, population - 200,814
Hexavalent chromium level 1.58 ppb - San Jose, California, population - 979,000
Hexavalent chromium level 1.34 ppb
With so many tens of millions of Americans exposed to hexavalent chromium on a daily bases, the Environmental Working Group is urging the EPA to act - to set a legal limit on chromium-6, and make water utility companies regularly test levels of it in their tap water.
In a communiqué, the Environmental Working Group wrote:
- "The state of California must establish a strong standard for hexavalent chromium in tap water immediately. A truly health-protective hexavalent chromium regulation will reduce the cancer risk for Californians and serve as a model for the nation. With an enforceable standard already six years past the statutory deadline and the health of millions of Californians at stake, the state cannot move too quickly
- A footnote to this is that the EPA admits that they do not have the tools currently available to detect this chemical in tap water at the levels proposed for "safe" drinking water.
- More later,
- Sam/Nutriteam
- www.nutriteam.com
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Protozoan Water Test
Here's a Science Daily report on a potentially life changing
technology because it works so well and is also inexpensive:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101210102914.htm
I hope they can get this into the system soon!
More later,
Sam/Nutriteam
www.nutriteam.com
technology because it works so well and is also inexpensive:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101210102914.htm
I hope they can get this into the system soon!
More later,
Sam/Nutriteam
www.nutriteam.com
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Test Your Water?
People often tell us how shocked they are at the appearance of
the residue left over from the process of distillation. They say,
with good reason, "I was drinking THAT?!"
You may assume, as I did for a long time, that the only way
to find out ahead of time if your water needs purification is
to submit to a barrage of tests from a private or State run
laboratory. And as you can guess, this process is pricey and
painful; each contaminant has to be isolated individually, and
at significant cost.
This is no longer true. We are able to offer 3 different levels
of testing, starting at only $10, that will tell you accurately
whether you have bacteria, heavy metals, hardness, etc.
Check out our website for more details: www.nutriteam.com
Please listen to the overwhelming body of evidence that says
your tap water is not safe. Not spring water, not well water,
not municipal water. A recent ScienceDaily.com report commented
that up to 90 percent of pharmaceutical drugs pass through the
human body unmetabolized. Where do you think they end up?
More later,
Sam Allen
www.nutriteam.com
the residue left over from the process of distillation. They say,
with good reason, "I was drinking THAT?!"
You may assume, as I did for a long time, that the only way
to find out ahead of time if your water needs purification is
to submit to a barrage of tests from a private or State run
laboratory. And as you can guess, this process is pricey and
painful; each contaminant has to be isolated individually, and
at significant cost.
This is no longer true. We are able to offer 3 different levels
of testing, starting at only $10, that will tell you accurately
whether you have bacteria, heavy metals, hardness, etc.
Check out our website for more details: www.nutriteam.com
Please listen to the overwhelming body of evidence that says
your tap water is not safe. Not spring water, not well water,
not municipal water. A recent ScienceDaily.com report commented
that up to 90 percent of pharmaceutical drugs pass through the
human body unmetabolized. Where do you think they end up?
More later,
Sam Allen
www.nutriteam.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
More Vitamin C
Vitamin C is such an amazing substance, I urge everyone
to get to know more about it. A great source of information
is orthomolecular.org, an organization started by a group of
MDs, PhDs, and other researchers including the likes of
Linus Pauling. Great stuff, and almost totally ignored by the
mainstream medical establishment.
But back to a practical application for those of you making
distilled water, the preferred method for the safest, most
pure form of drinking water.
A small amount of vitamin C(a teaspoon or less) will not only
make your boil chamber much easier to clean, if you have
hardness minerals, but it will also eliminate chlorine and chloramine,
the 2 chemicals most often used by municipalities to kill harmful
pathogens in delivered water systems. Just add half a teaspoon,
more or less, to each batch of water you plan to distill; it's that
simple.
What a super, double-duty application of an inexpensive yet
highly valuable substance!
Many of you have already discovered our vitamin C shower filter
on nutriteam.com to keep your hair and skin from being damaged
by these chemicals.
Of course, distillation is still the workhorse for purifying
water, as it leaves behind or kills all pathogens, heavy metals,
flouride, radon, pharmaceutical residues, etc.
Good health to you!
More later,
Sam
nutriteam.com
steamdistiller.com
to get to know more about it. A great source of information
is orthomolecular.org, an organization started by a group of
MDs, PhDs, and other researchers including the likes of
Linus Pauling. Great stuff, and almost totally ignored by the
mainstream medical establishment.
But back to a practical application for those of you making
distilled water, the preferred method for the safest, most
pure form of drinking water.
A small amount of vitamin C(a teaspoon or less) will not only
make your boil chamber much easier to clean, if you have
hardness minerals, but it will also eliminate chlorine and chloramine,
the 2 chemicals most often used by municipalities to kill harmful
pathogens in delivered water systems. Just add half a teaspoon,
more or less, to each batch of water you plan to distill; it's that
simple.
What a super, double-duty application of an inexpensive yet
highly valuable substance!
Many of you have already discovered our vitamin C shower filter
on nutriteam.com to keep your hair and skin from being damaged
by these chemicals.
Of course, distillation is still the workhorse for purifying
water, as it leaves behind or kills all pathogens, heavy metals,
flouride, radon, pharmaceutical residues, etc.
Good health to you!
More later,
Sam
nutriteam.com
steamdistiller.com
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