Should drinking water carry a warning 'Contains dangerous chemicals - May damage your health'

By Enda Graig

Smoking causes cancer

Cigarettes contain chemicals which, when inhaled in small doses, on a continual basis over an extended period of time dramatically increases your potential of developing life threatening cancer. This is now an accepted medical fact which our Government insists is displayed, in capital letters, on all for sale cigarette packaging. You are given a severe warning concerning the inherent dangers - the rest is up to you.

 

Trihalomethanes (THMS) causes cancer

Drinking water, which contains THMs, when either ingested or inhaled through steam in small doses on a continual basis over an extended period of time will dramatically increase your potential of developing cancer and other health problems.  There is a large body of high-level medical research which now believes this to be true. 

This has been happening in the drinking water supplies in seventeen treatment plants throughout Donegal.  Greencastle displays the highest reading of THMs of them all in a water analysis test taken in August 2015. 

Irish Water and indeed the HSE would have you believe the threat of these chemicals is inconclusive.  However, what they don't tell you is that there are recommended limits and these limits have been and continue to be exceeded.  In the case of Greencastle it is twice the recommended limit.  

Neither Irish Water or the HSE issue any warnings to the public.  They categorically refuse stating that trihalomethane exceedance is not a significant health hazard.  Unsuspecting public, including the able-bodied, the feeble, children and infants are all consuming the contaminated water. 

Daily Mail, March2, 2016

Daily Mail, March2, 2016

Similar incident, different response


The response to a similar contamination in Derbyshire, England in March this year was in marked contrast when Severn Trent Water contacted customers to warn them not to drink the tap water due to excess chlorination in the reservoir. 

See Daily Mail March 12, 2016 "Hundreds of families still without water a day after chlorine contamination triggered warning to thousands not to drink from taps"

"More than 200 homes in Derbyshire and Leicestershire are still without water a day after locals were warned not to drink, bathe of 'wash their toilets' with it.
Severn Trent Water warned as many as 3,700 customers across the counties not to use their tap water because higher than normal chlorine levels were detected in a reservoir.
It announced today that the 'majority of customers' are now able to use water as normal but 227 properties are still at risk.
Severn Trent said in a statement: 'As our network gets back to normal there may be times when your water supply is interrupted or you have discoloured water. "

 

Rathmullan Doctor's warning in DonegalDaily

Please read Dr John Carnie's ( Consultant Anesthetist ) article on Rathmullans drinking water supply, in DonegalDaily, Nov 20, 2014

"DOCTOR SAYS TOWN’S WATER SUPPLY IS NOT FIT TO DRINK"

"The retired anaesthetist claims that along with many other homes in Rathmullan, he has been in receipt of hazardous water since 2009 and no remedial action has been undertaken in the last five years.

The main complaint refers to the presence of THMs (Trihalomethanes) in drinking water in the area. Meanwhile the EU Commission says the elimination of all THMs remains a priority for the EPA."

March 11, 2016 - thousands in Derbyshire England warned not to use high chlorine water

 

On March 11 the BBC News ran a story 'Thousands of residents warned not to use 'high chlorine' water.  It reported

"Severn Trent has warned thousands of customers not to use water while it investigates problems with high levels of chlorine in its supply.

The company said it is investigating an issue at the Castle Donington reservoir in Derbyshire.

It has told residents in the DE11, DE15, DE65, DE73 and LE65 areas of Derbyshire and Leicestershire not to use water for any purpose.

A total of 3,700 properties have been affected."

 

The Daily Mail story

On the same day March 11, The Daily Mail Online also reported on the issue givena more comprehensive explanation and information.

'Contaminated water supply triggers panic buying after thousands of households are warned not to drink or wash with it - and it's even too toxic to clean TOILETS'.
The article continued

  • Severn Trent Water warned many customers in Derbyshire, Leicestershire
  • As many as 3,700 homes could have been affected by the chlorine problem
  • Water company did not disclose exact chlorine levels, how problem began
  • Superstores, local shops in the area completely sold out of bottled water
People living in the DE11, DE65 and DE73 areas of Derbyshire have been instructed not to use their water supply

People living in the DE11, DE65 and DE73 areas of Derbyshire have been instructed not to use their water supply

Earlier today, Severn Trent spokesman Jonathan Smith warned locals not to use tap water in any capacity, adding: 'Don't drink it, don't wash with it, don't even brush your toilet with it.'

Up to 0.7mg of chlorine per 1litre of water is considered safe, but Smith told MailOnline he could not disclose the levels found in the Castle Donington reservoir.

He said: 'There is more chlorine than there should be in the water... We can't give you the levels that are in the water.

'We don't know if the level will be high enough that it will do damage to your skin.'

When asked if Severn Trent knew what caused the high chlorine levels, Mr Smith said: 'No, we have to look at that in detail.'

He said the systems should be flushed by midday tomorrow and claimed people will have safe running water by evening time.

But the lack of information given out to residents has concerned many, with one mother, Maria Fowler, tweeting: 'Will this affect my pregnancy? Slightly concerned as I have been drinking the water?'

Mother of two Sarah Yarnall, 34, of Woodville, Derbyshire, tweeted Severn Water at 7pm to ask if she was in the affected area.

Her husband Lee Shakespeare, 39, only found out about the water issue when his children's school texted him.

HEALTH HAZARDS OF HIGH CHLORINE LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER

Chlorine is used to purify water and although low levels of the substance in the water is harmless, the chemicals it can create are known to cause cancer.

Chlorine can react with substances in the water supply to produce compounds known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs), according to a study by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

It said the main byproducts, trihalomethanes (THMs), are mostly responsible for health hazards. 

The agency added the compound 'mainly slows down regular brain activity' and prolonged exposure 'can cause liver and kidney cancer, as well as heart disease, unconsciousness, or death in high doses'.

Severn Trent Spokesperson levels of chlorine higher than a swimming pool

Severn Trent said they have 'cut off the service' to the reservoir where the problem was observed.
Principal inspector Sue Pennison said earlier today: 'The normal level in a swimming pool is between two and four micrograms – this is a little bit higher than that.'
The company is now in the process of 'flushing the pipes' at the reservoir so the contaminated water is washed out.
'This will take as long as it takes for us to be 100 per cent certain that our customers are safe,' Mr Smith told Sky News earlier today. 

 

Sources:  BBC News
               Daily Mail Online          
               Fliuch Off Irish Water Ltd

 


We love our tea but could it be damaging our health?ph

Article by Dan Buckley

Buy a cuppa? Milk and sugar?  Fluoride with that?

A new scientific study claims that tea made with fluoridated tap water is hazardous to health and that Irish people are most in danger.

Research published this month, in the Swiss-based International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, reveals excessive fluoride levels in tea in Ireland, and, say the researchers, provides the strongest evidence, to date, that the dietary fluoride intake in the general population can exceed the levels known to cause chronic fluoride intoxication.

The Republic of Ireland is the only European country with mandatory legislation, requiring artificial fluoridation of drinking water, and has the highest per capita consumption of black tea in the world.

The study is authored by an international team of researchers led by Irish scientist, Declan Waugh, some of whose previous findings have been rejected by the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, an advisory body that operates under the Department of Health.

The study assessed human exposure to fluoride, from the consumption of tea, by measuring the fluoride content in tea infusions from 54 different black-tea products sold in Ireland. It found all of the black teas had fluoride concentrations that exceeded the maximum enforceable level in drinking water, while also exceeding the maximum permitted level that requires labelling and safety precautions for bottled mineral water, under European regulations.

“These findings are important, because the European Food Safety Authority previously reported that drinking just two cups of tea per day, prepared with fluoridated water, in addition to other dietary sources of fluoride, can provide almost twice the recommended intake for adults,” said Mr Waugh.

“What we’ve shown is that the Republic of Ireland has one of the highest fluoride intakes in the world, due to our high consumption of tea, which is six times the global average.”

Original article Irish Examiner, March 10, 2016 

Other sources:     Fliuch
                            MDPI Switzerland