Key Takeaways
- Virtually all tap water in Los Angeles and many other Southern California cities contains chlorine, which is used to kill bacteria and other contaminants.
- While this tap water is often safe to drink by the EPA’s standards, you might still want to filter it to avoid consuming chlorine while drinking it, or possibly steer clear of drinking tap water altogether.
- You should also learn more about how chlorine absorption through the skin and inhalation can occur when you’re showering or bathing, and understand the impact it can potentially have on you and your family’s health.
Taking long, hot showers can relax your muscles, reduce your stress levels, and improve your overall sleep quality. However, it can also be hazardous to your health in certain instances if you aren’t careful.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, chlorine is often found in tap water entering homes in L.A. and many other Southern California cities. As a result, you may be forced to deal with potential health effects caused by chlorine absorption through the skin and inhalation while showering.
Is There Chlorine in Shower Water?
Yes, there is chlorine in shower water in most cities. This is especially true in large-scale cities like Los Angeles, where up to 500 million gallons of wastewater are treated daily. Water treatment plants in Southern California rely on chlorine to get this water as clean as possible before redistributing it to the millions of homes throughout the region.
That said, these treatment plants aim to keep chlorine levels low in drinking and shower water. These levels typically fall well below the EPA’s maximum allowable level of 4 parts per million, averaging around 1.3 ppm and making water safe to drink and bathe in.
Still, chlorine absorption through the skin and inhalation remain common concerns among L.A. homeowners. Even a relatively small amount of chlorine could negatively affect your health if you’re regularly exposed to it.
Can Showering in This Water Increase Your Daily Chlorine Intake?
As long as they don’t drink unfiltered tap water that contains chlorine, many homeowners mistakenly believe they’re safe from its health hazards. Unfortunately, they don’t always stop to ask, “Does skin absorb chlorine from water while showering?”
However, you can increase your daily chlorine intake without drinking a single drop of chlorinated water in your home. You can still absorb it while showering or bathing in chlorinated water. In fact, two-thirds of the chlorine found in the average person’s body comes from taking hot showers.
The reason for this is two-fold. First, a hot shower can open your pores and allow chlorine absorption through the skin to happen more easily. It can also produce steam, which could create an even worse situation due to chlorine vapor inhalation.
This steam can contain up to 50 times more chlorine and other contaminants than tap water. It can increase the likelihood of health complications.
What Are the Health Effects of Showering in Chlorinated Water?
Studies on the health effects of chlorine in shower water have been conducted for decades. Many have led scientists to conclude that significant health risks exist for those who routinely take hot showers or baths that expose them to chlorinated water. They have discovered direct links between chlorine intake and serious illnesses in humans and animals.
Both chlorine absorption through the skin and inhalation of chlorine vapor can offer it direct access to your bloodstream. Chlorine doesn’t have to pass through your liver and kidneys before entering your bloodstream, like it has to when you consume it via drinking water.
Because of this, chlorinated water may cause respiratory issues, such as asthma and bronchitis. A pair of 2022 studies also suggested that a connection may exist between exposure to water containing disinfectants, such as chlorine, and an increased cancer risk.
How Can You Avoid Bathing in Chlorinated Water?
You can protect yourself and your family from the dangers of chlorine absorption through the skin while showering by removing chlorine before it ever reaches your home’s bathrooms. The Waterboy whole-house water filtration system removes chlorine in the first stage of its innovative 4-stage filtration process. This improves its taste and smell while also eliminating many of the health risks associated with bathing in chlorinated water.
Installing this system can provide everyone within your household with peace of mind. It can also make it safer to use your home’s water for drinking, washing clothes and dishes, and more.
Contact Us to Stop Chlorine From Impacting Your Home’s Water
Would you like to learn more about how to stop chlorine from wreaking havoc in your Southern California home? Superior Water can speak with you at length about the Waterboy system and show you how it can prevent chlorine absorption through the skin and inhalation while showering.
Reach out to us today for additional information.
