Harmful Effects of High Levels of Iron in Water
Iron is an essential mineral, but when it gets into your drinking water, it needs to be removed.
Iron in water has many negative effects, here are the most common ones.
Effects on Your Health:
While a low level of iron isn’t harmful in and of itself, iron in drinking water is classified as a secondary contaminant according to the EPA.This is because iron often carries with it bacteria that feed off the iron to survive. These tiny organisms can be harmful when digested.
In addition, if your iron levels are too high, serious health effects can develop, including iron overload. Iron overload is caused by a mutation in the gene that digests iron. Iron overload can lead to hemochromatosis, which can lead to liver, heart, and pancreatic damage, as well as diabetes. Early symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, and joint pain.
Excessive iron is never recommended for digestion; it can lead to stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, and other issues.
Effects on Your Skin:
Water with excessive amounts of dissolved minerals such as iron and magnesium can have negative effects on your skin. They can damage healthy skin cells, which can lead to wrinkles.
In addition, water with iron doesn’t blend well with soap. This causes issues when showering and bathing, as soap scum residue will be left not only in your bathtub but on your skin as well. This can clog skin pores, which will lead to a buildup of oils in your skin. This, in turn, can lead to skin problems such as acne or eczema.
Effects on Food and Drink:
Water with iron has a metallic taste to it, which makes it very unpleasant to drink. Using this water for beverages such as coffee or tea will create to an unpleasant and dark concoction.
In addition, water with high levels of iron is not recommended for your cooking needs. Vegetables and other foods cooked in such water will blacken and absorb a bad taste.
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