Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia and is frequently used by water companies to disinfect water supplies. Chloramine exists as three different forms or species: monochloramine (NH2Cl), dichloramine (NHCl2) and trichloramine (NCl3). They are chemically related and are easily converted into each other; thus, they are more appropriately called chloramines. The three species of chloramine constantly and rapidly shift from one form to another.
Chloramines are all respiratory irritants with trichloramine being the most toxic (order of toxicity: monochloramine < dichloramine < trichloramine-most severe.)
The EPA states that there are NO dermal (skin) and NO inhalant (respiratory) studies on chloramine as used as a disinfectant for drinking water.
Effects of Chloramine on Human Health
- Chloramine fumes can cause an individual to become congested and cause sneezing, sinus congestion, coughing, choking, wheezing, shortness of breath, and asthma
- Chloramine damages mucous membranes. The lung damage in those exposed to chloramine in indoor pool air is similar to that seen in regular smokers
- Chloramine tap water can cause severe skin reactions: rashing, itching, welting, chapping, cracking bleeding, drying skin, flaking, blistering, burning sensation, scarring, pigmentation
- Chloramine can aggravate other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Kidney dialysis patients cannot use chloraminated water in their dialysis machines because it will cause hemolytic anemia.
The real kicker is that with all these problems, there are very few ways to effectively remove chloramine from water. Filtration is extremely expensive compared to filtration for chlorine. For high flow uses like showering and bathing, a whole house filtration system would be needed to effectively remove chloramine and ammonia. A whole house filtration system could cost $10,000 to $15,000 with $1,200 maintenance per year.
With this petition, I am hoping that awareness can be raised about the dangers of chloramine and the effect that it is having on thousands of people’s lives. Germany and the state of Tennessee have already banned chloramine from being used as a water disinfectant. With safer options available, chloramine use should be banned nationwide.
For more information visit: http://www.chloramine.org/
