Re: ::RE: probiotics and chlorinated water...

November 5, 2001

In a message dated 11/5/2001 3:42:48 PM Pacific Standard Time,

jcastor@... writes:

> They informed me that it depends upon my location within the city

> and how the water was blended. (The ratio from wells or from the local

> river). After I had mentioned my location within the city, he rambled off

> over 6 chemicals added to our local water supply. I can only remember

> Aluminum & Charcoal. The additives other than Chlorine are used to clarify

> the water. Evidently after the initial treatment with chemicals, other

> chemicals are then added to remove the initial chemicals. Quite a

> process...

>

Jeff,

Thanks for your reply. My husband is an environmental attorney and municipal

water happens to be one of his specialties. I could tell you some rather ugly

stories about water treatment plants; but if you're drinking city water, you

really don't want to hear them. Somebody has to make the decisions about how

much stuff has to be removed from the water and somebody else has to decide

what mechanical and chemical methods will be used to do that. Then a bunch of

scientific types decide what is safe FOR EVERYONE...that means that the EPA

decidse upon allowable ppm (parts per million) and ppb (parts per billion) of

things like arsenic and copper and other such lovelies. The problem with the

" safety " of these things is that they are tested on mice. When the mice begin

to react to the assault, that is the level called the lowest " effective dose "

(ED50, meaning that in 50% of the test subjects, which are mice, this is the

level at which there begin to be indicators of the assault) and when the mice

begin to die from the assault, that is called the " lethal dose " (LD50, same

as ED50 except this is the level at which 50% of the test subjects die). You

are probably now asking " What does that have to do with me, an adult human,

and my family? " That's a good question and one we should all be asking. The

answer is " Absolutely nothing. " However, it would be unethical to run these

same tests on humans, so we have to test on animals (some may still opine as

unethical) to get some baseline from which to design our safety standards.

Yes, these safety standars for humans are based on the ED and LD in rats and

mice. Oh, and yes, this is the same technique that is used to decide how many

ppm of mercury is safely contained in immunizations that our children are

getting. Of course, the rats and mice used for these studies are extremely

bright and the scientists are able to detect those subjects whose speech and

cognitive skills have been negatively effected by the neuro toxic mercury

(she said in jest!).So, water, air, injection, or consumption, we are

partaking of lots of bad gunk; but at least our government has the LD50 so

we'll know if we're getting close to dangerous levels (typed with as much

cynicism as my 10 fingers can muster). Anyway, back to the subject...I can't

help but think that, although it's a really great idea to rebuild the

colonies of beneficial flora, we must be minimizing the good effects by

drinking chlorinated water with it. Anyone know where I can get a home

distiller for the holidays?

Amber

November 6, 2001

Amber,

Thanks for the post & the information!! WOW....bottled water here I

come. I believe you that you have some rather ugly stories about treatment

plants. Someone I know used to work at the pump station and filled me in on

what they would catch on their intake screens. I think most of us just take

for granted that the water is " clean " .

Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks for your reply. My husband is an environmental attorney and municipal

water happens to be one of his specialties. I could tell you some rather

ugly

stories about water treatment plants; but if you're drinking city water, you

really don't want to hear them. Somebody has to make the decisions about how

much stuff has to be removed from the water and somebody else has to decide

what mechanical and chemical methods will be used to do that. Then a bunch

of

scientific types decide what is safe FOR EVERYONE...that means that the EPA

decidse upon allowable ppm (parts per million) and ppb (parts per billion)

of

things like arsenic and copper and other such lovelies. The problem with the

" safety " of these things is that they are tested on mice. When the mice

begin

to react to the assault, that is the level called the lowest " effective

dose "

(ED50, meaning that in 50% of the test subjects, which are mice, this is the

level at which there begin to be indicators of the assault) and when the

mice