K+BB - September 2008 - (Page 26)

Focus Testing the Waters K+BB examines the beneﬁts of bathing in ﬁltered water With the growing number of manufacturers introducing ﬁlters to bathing and showering products, one may begin to wonder if there’s something in the water—a question that has been on many minds since the 1970s, when scientists ﬁrst became aware of disinfection by-products (DBPs). The subject of numerous studies, drinking water disinfection is something of a double-edged sword. Although its introduction in the U.S. reduced cholera incidence by 90 percent, typhoid by 80 percent and amoebic dysentery by 50 percent, DBPs—formed when disinfectants such as chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide or chloramines react with naturally occurring organic matter, anthropogenic contaminants, bromide and iodide during the process of treating surface and groundwater— may have health effects that scientists do not yet fully understand. for skin repair. The Enviropure Shower Filters, on the other hand, use a combination of KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) filtration media and Chlorgon filtration technology, which employs finely granulated alloy of copper and zinc to remove or neutralize chlorine, heavy metals and microbiological contaminants. Products like the Wellness Shower (shown) ﬁlter drinking water in various ways to eliminate potentially harmful elements. This particular device uses metal alloy and minerals, among others, for many stages of puriﬁcation. CALCULATING THE RISK To put the issue in perspective, there are more than 600 DBPs in our drinking water, a small number of which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and only a few of which have been studied. And that doesn’t count the unidentified DBPs that may be lurking in your water, making their way into your body not only through ingestion, but by inhalation and dermal absorption, too. According to “Occurrence, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of regulated and emerging disinfection by-products in drinking water: A review and roadmap for research,” a study in which 85 DBPs were assessed, “showering and bathing (and swimming) result in larger volume exposures than does drinking, and higher concentrations of some of the volatile DBPs were observed in blood from dermal/inhalation exposure compared to oral ingestion.” It was also noted that some epidemiologic studies have shown that a lifetime exposure to chlorinated water through showering, bathing and swimming is associated with an increased risk for cancer, especially of the bladder and colorectum. In addition, recent studies have raised the issue of potential adverse reproductive and developmental effects. EXPERT OPINION Regardless of purification technique, today’s filters have experts on their side. Clifford P. Weisel, an Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute professor at the RWJMS/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and coauthor of a study that measured inhalation and dermal exposures to DBPs, said, “If an individual lives in an area where there are high DBP levels in the water and there are other risk factors for cancer, installing a ﬁlter will reduce the risk.” As well as the health problems it may cause, chlorine also dehydrates the skin, making it more susceptible to irritation and disorders such as eczema. According to Leslie Baumann, MD, professor of dermatology at the University of Miami and director of the University of Miami’s Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute, “Filters are a must for anyone with dry or sensitive skin, especially if they live in a city with hard water or high amounts of chlorine in the water.” With that said, a filter is only as good as its maintenance regime, which for the Enviropure Shower Filters includes cartridge replacement every three to six months, depending on the model. For the Wellness Shower, a built-in back-ﬂushing design allows the bather to twist the ﬁlter 90 degrees and ﬂush it with water to dislodge any accumulated sediment, but the device has a deﬁnitive lifespan, rated to at least 27,000 gallons, which for a family of four equates to about two years of daily use. Despite the potential health implications related to DBP exposure, there are still many unanswered questions about the contents of our drinking water. Maybe that fact alone is enough for homeowners to consider installing a shower ﬁlter. This may be a case where the beneﬁts outweigh any skepticism. s —Sallie Moffat PROCESS OF ELIMINATION So what can be done to prevent exposure? Short of not bathing, water filters may be one solution and manufacturers are stepping up with various options. Products like the Wellness Shower from Wellness Enterprises and Water, Inc.’s Enviropure Shower Filters filter drinking water in different ways to eliminate potentially harmful elements. Targeted specifically to chlorine and chloramine, the Wellness Shower’s system includes multiple stages of treatment and adds rare Japanese minerals to the water to “induce a mild antioxidant effect” 26 + K BB September 2008 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of K/BIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of K+BB - September 2008

KBB - September 2008
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Feedback
Dates
Digits
Focus
Consumer
Trends
Products
Options
Profile
Design
Hospitality Suite
Guest Appearance
Green
Access
Additions
Practice
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Editorial Index
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K+BB - September 2008