The Health Risks Of Chloramine

A growing number of municipalities in the US now add ammonia to the water supply to change chlorine to chloramine. One reason is studies that suggest chlorine is carcinogenic. The EPA told water suppliers to reduce the amount of trihalomethanes (chlorination byproducts) in the water supply, but did not mandate chloramines. Chloramines reduce, but do not eliminate trihalomethanes, and they generate other byproducts.

The other reason is that chloramine lasts longer. However, by definition chloramine is harder to remove than chlorine, requiring more filter material.

Research published in 2007 by Dr. Michael Plewa indicated that the disinfection byproducts (DBPs) created from the use of chloramine are much more toxic than the DBPs of chlorine. These new nitrogen-containing DBPs are not regulated by the EPA. Yet, this chemical is now in the water in many US municipalities.

There are widespread reports of health problems from chloramines. It is suggested that anyone with chemical sensitivities will react badly to chloramines. The EPA says that there have been no studies done to determine the risks to epidermis, respiratory, digestive or epidemiologic systems of chloramine in water supplies, and that there are inadequate cancer studies on animals or humans. There also appear to be no allergy tests. But those individuals with extreme rashes, breathing and liver problems know the answer already.

Health problems directly experienced by many chloramines:
Severe skin rashes
Dry and scaling skin
Erupting, oozing skin
Skin described as having chemical burns
Skin outbreak 'like hives'
Swollen ears
Extreme fatigue
Hacking coughs
Sneezing
Nasal congestion
Itchy, burning and swollen eyes
Raspy throat
Peeling fingernails
Stomach aches
Yeast infection
Ammonia toxicity from consumption, especially for those with liver, kidney or urea cycle diseases
People who keep aquariums know that they have to get the chloramine out - or the fish die.

There are no NSF certified chloramine filters. Some suggest we shouldnt do anything now but fight the use of chloramines in the water. But the battle against fluoride has gone on for several decades, and only recently is awareness of risks from fluoride really escalating. Do you really want go for years without limiting exposure to chloramines as much as possible, waiting for officialdom? It just doesn't make sense.

Many have reported that stopping exposure to chloramines led to dramatic health improvement within days. Kdf reduces chloramines, kdf 85 takes out more chloramines. Granulated carbon is known to remove organic byproducts like those formed by chloramine. Suggesting that we wait for years of testing (as far as we know it hasn't even started) while we are exposed is dubious at best.

Many report health issues from bathing or showering in water with chloramine. Unlike chlorine, however, chloramine is not significantly removed by shower or bath filters. You can effectively filter chloramine at the kitchen, but to significantly reduce it at the shower and bath, you need whole house filters.


Timothy Hickey is the Big Splash at www.friendsofwater.com, a family-run website and online store with lots of information and products to filter water, save water, and celebrate water. Email Timothy at timothy@friendsofwater.com.