If we are 80% water, then are we what we DRINK?
The primary school statistic that we are 80% water – later on we learn that it is because of the high levels of water inside every cell, dissolved in which are the compounds for life. But what happens when the water we drink is contaminated?
The implications are seen across less developed areas sharing single water pumps between hundreds of people, but the problem is not just confined to such countries. In the USA lead contamination has been causing concern. Lead concentrations build up in the body, and can result in lead poisoning(read more here). Despite strict legislation (Safe Drinking Water Act Lead and Copper Rule, 1991), some children are still exposed to lead. This is a big public health challenge that extends beyond the healthcare industry and involves manufacturing industries and builders and environmental scientists.
If we are what we drink, lead is not our only concern . . . alcohol exerts an enormous toll on the body, the liver and nervous system in particular, and the impact of sugary fizzy drinks on our teeth is very well documented. Even straight water – supposedly pure – can contain traces of harmful elements as well as bugs. The water we drink from taps in London has been ingested by a number of people before we get to it. As resources become more limited, the quality of our water as well as its quantity is going to present challenges to public health
