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Water Purification Good Afternoon, We have had quite an in-depth look at the role of water in our body. Let’s conclude by looking at the various types of water and their treatment for purification. Through man’s continual disregard for the purity of his environment, chemical pollutants contaminate almost all of the natural waters of the earth. For instance DDT has been found in the far reaches of the North Pole area. Among the pollutants of our natural water are: soap, wood pulp, oil, sulphuric acid, copper, arsenic, paint, pesticides, and even radioactive wastes. Among the most prevalent inorganic minerals in our waters, which are unusable by and toxic to the body are: calcium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine and sulphur. Let’s start by having a closer look at the major methods commonly used by municipalities in the treatment of tap water: SEDIMENTATION: When water is allowed to stand still, its heaviest particles will naturally settle to the bottom ( sand, rocks and heavy particles that are not chemically bonded with the water itself. FILTRATION: filtration is a process that strains out particles in the water that does not settle. Commonly, the water is allowed to pass through a sand filter and furthers the process of sedimentation. COAGULATION: This is a process that involves the use of jelly-like binding materials. These materials can include aluminum hydroxide, aluminum sulfate and activated silica. These chemicals are supposed to bind with impurities and cause them to settle out. However, there is great likelihood that at least trace amounts of these toxins remain in the water after its process. SOFTENING: Many waters used for commercial water supplies are originally "hard" mineral laden waters. In water treatment facilities, chemicals such as calcium hydroxide and sodium carbonate are added to the water. These substances form chemical bonds with the “hardening” minerals, particularly calcium & magnesium. The resultant chemicals from the reaction are then filtered as much as possible. Sometimes this filtering is done by a process called REVERSE OSMOSIS, whereby the purer water is transported towards the area of least salt (mineral) concentration. This process is literally the reverse of normal osmosis. CHLORINATION. With few exceptions, chlorine is added to the water supply of every large city. As we all know chlorine is added to the water to poison and kill germs. It is a powerful poison and found to b a contributing factor in arteriosclerosis. FLUORIDATION: Some arguments in favour of fluoridation is it’s supposed value in the protection of teeth. Some studies have shown that, at best, fluoride only delays decay. Reasons aplenty exist, however, for the avoidance of fluoride. Teeth stain and mottling of teeth, eventually resulting in brittleness. The Mayo clinic Department of Orthopedics wrote that, although fluoride administration has been shown to stimulate new bone formation, the bone formed thereby is poorly mineralized. Fluoride can contribute to the calcification of ligaments and tendons, even eventually contributing to the spine becoming a solid column of bones. Fluoride can be stored virtually anywhere in the body including the aorta, the main blood flow artery of the heart. There is considerable evidence that fluoride impairs kidney function. In some studies fluoride has been linked to genetic damage, birth defect and cancer. Clearly the addition of fluoride to our waters is detrimental to our health. Surely the dubious benefit of "protection of the teeth" cannot compare to the known health detriments of fluoridation. I think I got carried away with the description of tap water and used up my space allocated to today’s newsletter, meaning that the conclusion will only be next week. Warm Wishes The Crazy Nut team