These can be purchased or made with items found around the house. Cedar chips and herbal sachets are a deterrent to moths in closets and drawers. This brings several chlorinated pollutants into our homes every day. Trihalomethanes, formed when chlorine combines with organic matter in water, are the most common. One trihalomethane is chloroform, which has been linked to liver, kidney and nervous system damage, as well as cancer.
Chloroform is released as a vapor from hot running water, such as in a shower.
Heavy metals used in water pipes can bring lead, cadmium, copper, iron and zinc to our taps. Filters can remove some, but not all, contaminants in water. To determine which type of filter is best for your needs, you first should check with your local water department to determine what pollutants are in your water source and what treatment the water receives from the municipality. Buying bottled water is no guarantee of purity. Regulations governing bottled water are inconsistent from place to place.