Cl on the DL

Chlorine is a common household chemical with which we are all familiar. Our grand-mothers taught us to fill bathtubs with it for hours to get them sparklingly clean, and our mothers bleached our whites every week. Unfortunately Chlorine has been linked to multiple harmful effects on our bodies through recent research. We are so used to Chlorine being a household name that most of us probably don't even think twice about the quantity of the chemical that surrounds us daily. Chlorine by itself can cause respiratory problems such as wheezing, allergy exacerbation, eye irritation, sore throats, and lung pain. When Chlorine combines with carbon Organochlorines are formed. These chemicals have the potential to disrupt our hormone regulation - especially estrogen - which has been linked to increased risk of many types of cancers.
Organochlorines often are produced as byproducts of industrial processes involving chlorine, organic matter and heat – such as bleached paper-making, burning of hazardous & medical waste, and general chemical production. They are also found in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and more. What many Organochlorines do is interfere with neurotransmitters and hormones -- chemicals that carry messages between the nervous system, the immune system, and the endocrine system. These messengers are, in effect, the intersections in the body's information highway. A surprising number of Organochlorines jam those intersections either by blocking cell receptors so messages can't get through, or by acting like hormones and sending false messages. Some of the most virulent Organochlorines, such as the dioxins, mimic or block the hormones estrogen or testosterone, the central controllers of reproduction. Even small amounts of these substances can interfere with the production of eggs or sperm, with conception, or with the development of embryos. Perhaps their worst trait is that they do not easily breakdown in the environment and tend to accumulate to high concentrations in the fat of humans and animals. Therefore, your best bet is to avoid them as much as possible to keep your (and the earth's) accumulation to a minimum.
Here are some tips to limiting your exposure to Chlorine and its harmful counterparts:
1. Go Chlorine-free whenever possible. This includes paper products, which are often available in unbleached formations, otherwise known as "processed chlorine free" or PCF. This includes your coffee filters, paper towels, and napkins. Even diapers are available Chlorine-free now. You'll just have to get used to the brown coloring that comes with the safer options. Get over it, and get down with the brown. Its for your health.
2. Avoid plastics containing PVC and PCBs. Paper and PVC account for 50 percent of industrial chlorine use in the United States.
3. Limit your use of antibacterial soaps (or antibacterial anything!): In addition to the harm such products cause by encouraging antibiotic resistance, the triclosan they contain combines with chlorinated tap water to create the carcinogenic gas chloroform, as well as chlorinated dioxins, highly toxic forms of dioxin. Choose natural dishwashing and hand soaps without chlorine or phosphates. Commonly available brands include Method, Seventh Generation, Ecover, and Mrs. Meyer's.
4. Keep the dishwasher closed during the wash cycle! That "whoosh" of steam releases toxic volatilized chlorine, which is formed by the combination of detergent and tap water.
5. Purify your drinking water as much as possible. Investing in a high-quality water filter can save you exposure to dozens of microscopic chemicals commonly found in our drinking water at "less than harmful" levels. When you figure in all of the other ways we're exposed to these chemicals that are beyond our control, your exposure is likely a lot more than you think. Correcting the water is an easy step towards lessening your exposure and your risk of harm. Why is it in our water in the first place? Mainly to prevent the spread of bacterial pathogens in the water supply. Only about one percent of the chlorine we use goes into drinking water. About 90 percent of that could be replaced by other disinfecting techniques.

For laundry whitening, instead of chlorine bleach you can use hydrogen peroxide. Soak your whites clothes for 30 minutes with 1/2 cup 20% peroxide and then wash them as usual. Some companies are starting to produce chlorine-free bleach, although these products are usually much more pricey than hydrogen peroxide.

For disinfecting your toilet bowl - another common use for bleach among the masses - try sprinkling the bowl with baking soda instead. Add a thin layer of white vinegar and let the bowl soak for 30 minutes, finishing with a toilet brush scrub.


Potentially harmful effects of Chlorine on the human body: