Protect Yourself and your Family
There are countless brands of shower filters on the market today. You are probably asking yourself
- Do I really need a shower filter?
- What can shower filters really remove?
- How do shower filters work?
Take a minute to learn more about the dangers of chlorine in the shower and what shower filters can and can’t take out of your water.
Chemicals in the Shower are Dangerous
Most people understand the importance of filtering their drinking water, but what about the water in your shower?
You may be surprised to learn that we absorb over 600% more chemicals in our daily shower than we do drinking the same water all day. Your bodies largest organ, skin, instantly absorbs Chlorine as you shower. To make matters worse, Chlorine produces toxic by-products such as Chloroform which have been linked to significant increases in the incidence of cancer.
"Taking long hot showers is a health
risk...... Showers, and to a lesser
extent baths, lead to a greater exposure to toxic chemicals contained
in water supplies than does drinking it. The chemicals evaporate out
of the water and are inhaled. They can also spread through the house
and be inhaled by others. House holders can receive 6 to 100 times
more of the chemical by breathing the air around showers and bath
than they would by drinking the water."
NEW SCIENTIST, September 1986
The Truth about Advertised Claims of Shower Filter Performance
- Showers filters effectively reduce - Chlorine (NSF/ANSI Standard 177). Filters using KDF can also reduce Chloramines, Iron & Hydrogen Sulfide.
- They do not effectively reduce - THMs, VOCs, Bacteria, Virus, Fungus, Algae, Lead, or Mercury
- Beware of companies or seemingly unbiased "Comparison Sites" making undocumented claims.
- Most Shower Filters reduce an average of 50% of Chlorine over the claimed cartridge life. Call the company and request a copy of performance testing before purchasing.
How Do Shower Filters Work? The Basics
- KDF: The most effective filter media for reducing chlorine in the Shower. A Copper/Zinc Alloy that converts Chlorine & Chloramines into Chloride. Works best at high temperatures with low contact time. Media is bacteriostatic, which helps prevent contamination.
- Calcium Sulfide (Chlorgon): A manufactured resin that absorbs Chlorine & Chloramines. It works across a wide temperature range but is not as effective as KDF.
- Carbon: Not effective in the shower. Works best at cool temperatures and with high contact time, neither of which occur in normal showering conditions. Prone to bacterial contamination at high temperatures.
- Vitamin C: Unproven technology. Manufacturers selling Vitamin C shower filters reference a study using a tablet to remove chlorine in standing water as validation for performance in a shower application.