I’d like to believe that our government is decreasing toxic mercury pollution. Unfortunately, the Environmental Integrity Project recently announced that mercury emissions have actually increased at most of the nation’s largest power plants, including plants in Georgia, Missouri, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

Coal-fired power plants generate 40 percent of U.S. mercury emissions, according to the McClatchy DC newspaper. Mercury pollution spews into the air, settles in lakes and rivers, and enters the water supply as well as the food chain.

Mercury exposure can cause developmental problems, including neurological problems in infants and children. The Environmental Integrity Project reported estimates that prenatal mercury exposure causes more than 300,000 cases of learning disabilities each year.

“Even though the technology exists today to dramatically reduce the mercury pollution, the U.S. power industry has delayed cleanup and barely made a dent in the power plant emissions,” said Ilan Levin of the Environmental Integrity Project.

You need a home water filter to remove mercury from your drinking water, especially if you have small children in your home.

ABC Boston (WCVB) reports that the water department in Amesbury, MA, has stopped adding fluoride to the water because of concerns about the imported Chinese fluoride. When mixed with water, 40 percent of the supposed sodium fluoride will not dissolve.

“I don’t know what it is,” said Department of Public Works Director Rob Desmarais. “It’s no soluble, and it doesn’t appear to be sodium fluoride, so we’re not quite sure what it is.”

The Amesbury water department has stopped using the fluoride from China - but more than 650,000 people in Massachusetts are still drinking water fluoridated with the chemicals from China. Nearly 1,000,000 people in Massachusetts are drinking water tainted by defective Chinese chemicals.

“They should test it to make sure it’s safe for us to drink,” said Paul Stewart of Newburyport, MA. “On the same day that I read the story about fluoride coming from China, I also read about stories about melamine that was being contaminated in milk products coming from China, and then we had another story about more lead in kids’ toys from China.”

Most sodium fluoride is imported from China because the Chinese supply is the cheapest. Fluoride is added to virtually all water supplies in the United States because it helps to prevent tooth decay. However, recent research has found that fluoride in water may contribute to developmental problems, reproductive problems, thyroid problems, endocrine problems, and neurological problems.

To remove fluoride from your water, you can use either a reverse osmosis water filter or an activated alumina defluoridation filter.

The video above, produced by the Fluoride Action Network, warns that people with kidney disease should avoid drinking fluoridated water because it puts them at higher risk for bone problems, teeth problems, and endocrine problems associated with fluoride.

Since the 1950s, fluoride has been added to city water supplies across the country because of its anti-cavity properties. Recently, however, scientific studies have shown the fluoridated water may do more harm than good.

Too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis - discoloration and deformation of the teeth. Toxic levels of fluoride may also contribute to osteoporosis, endocrine problems, neurological problems, and reproductive problems.

People with kidney disease are more susceptible to fluoride toxicity because their kidneys cannot eliminate the fluoride efficiently. Therefore, toxic levels of fluoride accumulate in their blood and their bodies rapidly. According to the National Kidney Foundation, all kidney disease patients should be notified of the risks of drinking fluoridated water.

Here in Atlanta, the water has been fluoridated since 1969. CBS Atlanta (WGCL) recently ran an investigative report on fluoride in water and found that plenty of people in Georgia are against fluoridation and campaigning to have this dangerous chemical removed from our water supply. Unfortunately, in Georgia, fluoridation of water is mandatory in all public water districts throughout the state.

Some cities (such as Corning, NY and Juneau, AL) are enacting anti-fluoridation laws to protect their citizens. When municipalities first began to fluoridate water in the 1950s, the water was the only source of fluoride. Now it is available in dental care products, and the fluoridation of water is completely unnecessary. It’s not only unnecessary but also dangerous.

The CDC now recommends that parents use non-fluoridated water for baby formulas. There’s no reason for babies to ingest fluoride since they don’t have teeth, and fluoride might cause developmental problems (such as dental fluorosis). If you know any parents of small children or anyone with kidney disease, please forward this article to them.

To remove fluoride from your water, you must use a reverse osmosis water filter or a fluoride water filter. For more information, see our under sink reverse osmosis water filter as well as our countertop fluoride filter.

Frank Caldario of Crestwood, IL, is just 30 years old, but he’s already had a gumball-size tumor removed from his kidney.

“I can’t help but wonder if what happened to me had something to do with the water,” he said. “It’s just unreal for someone my age to get that.”

Illinois released a report last week which found that toxic chemicals in Crestwood’s drinking water could have contributed to Crestwood’s cancer cluster, or elevated cancer rates. The community of approximately 11,000 shows higher than average rates for kidney cancer, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer.

Why was this community drinking toxic water? Last year the Chicago Tribune revealed that the community’s water supply came from a “secret” taiinted well. Unbelievable!

For years, residents of Crestwood were told that they were drinking treated water from Lake Michigan, when they were really drinkign water from a polluted well! Property values in the village have dropped since last year’s revelation, and citizens are worried about their health.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: You just can’t trust government authorities to provide your family with safe water. You have to take matters into your own hands and invest in a home water filter.

Earlier this evening I was reading about water quality issues and came across this list of 10 Benefits of Using a Shower Filter at All About Water, a comprehensive, interesting source of information about water treatment alternatives, bottled water quality, and water filtration products, including a listing of several general water facts.

1. Using a shower filter is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce harmful exposure to chlorine and other chemicals.

Studies show that chlorinated water is linked to increased risk of cancer. Chlorine combines with other molecules to form carcinogens. These dangerous chemicals may be inhaled or absorbed by the skin.

2. Showering in filtered water results in greater respiratory health by reducing the risk of asthma and bronchitis from chlorine inhalation.

Showering in chlorinated water can actually cause an asthma attack!

3. Showering in chlorine-free, filtered water decreases the risks of bladder and breast cancer.

One scientific study found that women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue, compared to women without breast cancer.

4. Children, who are particularly at risk of the harmful effects of chlorine inhalation, benefit especially from the removal of chlorine from showering water.

Small, developing lungs are more prone to damage by lung irritants like chlorine.

5. As chlorine is a leading cause of fatigue, showering in filtered, chlorine-free water results in higher energy levels and overall greater health.

Have you ever frolicked under a sparkling water fall? It’s a very energizing experience! Showering in clean, chemical-free water can be just as invigorating.

6. Removing chlorine from showering water results in better air quality throughout the house.

“Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated chloroform in nearly every home because of the chlorine in the water,” said Dr. Lance Wallace of the EPA. “Chloroform levels increase up to 100 times during a ten-minute shower in residential water.”

7. Without the drying effects of chlorine, skin becomes softer, healthier, and younger looking.

You’ll feel a difference in your skin and hair after the first time you shower in filtered water.

8. Removing chlorine from showering water reduces the presence of skin rashes and the appearance of wrinkles.

Chlorine is classified as a pesticide by the EPA. It is a toxin used to kill germs in water, but it also damages human cells and tissue.

9. Because the hair is able to preserve its natural moisturizing oils, it becomes softer and healthier when chlorine is removed from showering water.

Have you noticed how your hair gets all dry and brittle after you go for a swim in a chlorinated pool? Chlorinated shower water dries out the hair, too. Dr. Oz told his audience that investing in a shower filter is the best thing you can do for your hair!

10. When the body is able to retain its natural moisturizers, the need for costly lotions and moisturizers is greatly reduced.

It’s still a good idea to use moisturizers (epsecially during the winter), but once you install your shower water filter, you’ll find that moisturizers work better and last longer - and you won’t have to apply them as frequently. Your skin will retain its natural moisture more efficiently when it’s not constantly dried out by chlorine exposure.

Shop our shower water filters now and start enjoying these wonderful health and beauty benefits!

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that the IBM Corp. Campus in Wiccopee is dealing with lead contamination in the drinking water. The lead in the drinking water is likely coming from old pipes.

The Poughkeepsie water treatment plant adds chloramines to the water, and scientific evidence shows that chloramines can accelerate the leaching of lead from pipes. Many water treatment plants across the country have begun using chloramines (chlorine combined with ammonia) as the primary disinfectant (as opposed to chlorine). Chloramines offer some advantages over chlorine, but both chlorine and chloramines in drinking water may cause serious health problems. For instance, chlorinated water is linked with increased cancer risk. Chloramines have also been associated with skin rashes and lung irritation.

Professor Marc Edwards of Virginia Polytechnic University has found that lead contamination rises after water treatment plants begin using chloramines. He explains that chloramines release ammonia, which provides food for certain types of bacteria that produce acid, which makes the water more corrosive of lead in pipes.

Lead contamination in drinking water can make people sick and interfere with mental development. For now, IBM is providing bottled water for their employees. I think it’s time for IBM to invest in eco-friendly bottle-less water coolers for their employees. These coolers have built-in filters to remove contaminants like lead.

Today the Cape Cod Times reports that the disposal of medicine is a hotly debated issue for the local board of health in Cape Cod, Massacusetts. When a health official revealed that Cape Cod Hospital regularly flushes narcotics down the drain (in accordance with federal rules), Yarmouth Board of Health member William Snowden said, “You’ve got to stop that, please! It’s unacceptable!”

Sometimes referred to as “emerging contaminants” in water, pharmaceuticals and personal care products have people concerned across the country, especially in communities like Cape Cod, where all drinking water comes from a single source and is highly sensitive to contamination. Many of these contaminants act as endocrine disruptors (even is small amounts), damaging the balance of hormones in humans as well as animals.

When drugs and personal care products are flushed down the toilet, they end up in our water supply - and water treatment facilities are not equipped to remove these contaminants. Chronic exposure to these contaminants over time can have adverse effects. For example, male fish in the Potamac River are beginning to develop eggs in their testes due to endocrine disruptors in the water. In humans, endocrine disruptors may cause developmental defects and fertility problems.

Officials are currently discussing alternative ways of disposing of dangerous medications. In the meantime, however, hospitals continue to flush drugs down the drain. You can remove endorcrine disruptors from your water with home water filters.

Marie Claire magazine recently pointed out the top myths about bottled water. Here are the Top 5 bottled water myths with some bonus info from your friendly water filter experts:

1. MYTH: Bottled water is better than tap water. In reality, nearly half of all bottled water comes from municipal water supplies. That’s right - it’s tap water in a bottle. Plus, while the EPA oversees tap water quality, the FDA regulates bottled water quality. In many cases, lax FDA regulations allow bottled water to be even more contaminated than tap water.

2. MYTH: Bottled water tastes better. Okay, so tap water and even well water can taste pretty funky sometimes. But you can get rid of unpleasant tastes with a home water filter. And have you ever sipped water from a plastic bottle that’s been sitting in the sun? Talk about bad taste! What you’re actually tasting are chemicals leaching from the plastic.

3. MYTH: Bottled water with added vitamins is healthier than tap water. Marion Nestle, PhD, professor of nutrition at NYU, explains, “Vitamins, color, herbs, protein, and all the other additions to water - those are a marketing ploy. If you’re drinking “enhanced” water, you’re likely drinking added sugar along with those vitamins. Oh, and don’t forget about those chemicals from the plastic.

4. MYTH: Bottled water is eco-friendly since plastic can be recycled. The sad fact is that most plastic bottles (nearly 90 percent!) are not recycled. They end up in landfills and oceans. There’s an island of plastic trash the size of Texas floating in the Pacific. Plus, the manufacturing and transportation of bottled water requires the same amount of oil that it would take to power 100,000 cars for an entire year.

If you really want to go green, use a reusable stainless steel water bottle or glass water bottle.

Green your office (and save money) with a bottleless office water cooler.

5. MYTH: Bottled water is worth the high price. Bottled water is about 4,000 times more expensive than tap water. And keep in mind that much bottled water is simply tap water in a plastic bottle! In fact, regular tap water may be even cleaner and safer than bottled water, since the plastic bottles can leach chemicals. To get the healthiest and most cost-efficient water, invest in a home water filter.

As more people realize that filtered tap water is healthier and much cheaper than bottled water, the home water filter industry continues to grow. The Wall Street Journal published an article about the industry on Wednesday, and it mentioned the fact that the Aquasana shower filter is now a best-seller nationwide. Shower filters are important because chlorinated water can produce carcinogens which can be inhaled in a steamy shower. By removing chlorine and other contaminants from water, shower filters also produce softer skin and hair.

“The economic downturn has whetted consumers’ appetite for tap water,” explains the article. “According to a Gallup poll released last year, pollution of drinking water is Americans’ No. 1 environmental concern. Many express worries about the risk of diseases, including cancer, that can be associated with contaminants such as arsenic, chlorine and pharmaceuticals sometimes found in drinking water.”

The EPA claims that tap water is safe, but the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found evidence which suggests otherwise. The EWG discovered 202 unregulated chemicals in tap water samples, including pharmaceuticals, hormone disruptors, perchlorate (a rocket fuel ingredient) and MTBE (a gasoline additive). The EPA does not even test for these chemicals. Jane Houlihan of the EWG explains, “In almost every case, the utilities comply with federal standards, but that doesn’t ensure that the water is safe to drink.”

Invest in a whole house water filter to purify your drinking water and shower water.

In January, citizens of Fremont, Ohio, were warned for the third time in less than six months that their drinking water contained high concentrations of nitrate.

Nitrate (NO3) is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It’s found naturally in the environment, and it’s harmless in small amounts. However, when large amounts of nitrates from agricultural operations and waste dumps contaminate drinking water, they make the water dangerous. In the body, nitrate is converted to nitrite, which can reduce oxygen supplies to organs like the brain. This is especially dangerous for infants. Nitrate levels of 10 mg/l or higher can cause methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome,” in which the ability to utilize oxygen is reduced.

Nitrate levels in the water of Fremont, OH, were found to be 11.3 mg/l, and officials issued an advisory and warned that infants under the age of 6 months should not be given tap water.

Symptoms of blue baby syndrome include blue skin (especially around the eyes and mouth), shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, and headache. If you suspect methemoglobinemia, take the baby to the hospital immediately. If left untreated, blue baby syndrome may cause permanent brain damage or death.

Elevated levels of nitrates in drinking water have also been linked to thyroid problems, increased risk for birth defects, increased risk of diabetes, and increased mortality rates for several different types of cancer.

Protect your water from nitrate contamination by using home water filters.