Xiao Li is a health-conscious young man who cooks and drinks water every day, but recently he has doubts about the safety of tap water. One day, he saw a discussion on social media about the possible carcinogenesis of rice cooked in tap water, which worried him.
"Mom, do you know? Recently, it was said on the Internet that cooking rice with tap water may cause cancer, and I was a little worried. Xiao Li raised his doubts with his mother.
The mother smiled and comforted, "Son, don't worry too much. In fact, tap water is safe to use after being strictly treated and tested. ”
01 Does cooking rice in tap water really cause cancer?
Since ancient times, people have used to use tap water to cook rice. However, in recent years, questions about the safety of tap water have also surfaced from time to time, and one of the most common concerns is about whether the chlorine content in tap water causes cancer.
Chlorine is a commonly used disinfectant in the process of tap water treatment, and its role is to effectively kill bacteria and viruses in the water and ensure the hygiene and safety of tap water. However, some are concerned that chlorine itself may pose a carcinogenic risk.
According to the World Health Organization's standards, the residual chlorine content in qualified tap water should be controlled within a safe range of less than 5 milligrams per liter. In the mainland, the standard is more stringent, stipulating that the residual chlorine content should be less than 4 mg/L. In practice, it was found that the residual chlorine content of tap water in most residents' homes was well below this standard, usually less than 1 milligram per liter of water.
02Is there a relationship between the high incidence of kidney disease and tap water?
In recent years, the incidence of kidney disease has been increasing year by year, which has attracted people's attention and concern. In the search for the cause of the high incidence of kidney disease, some people point the finger at long-term tap water consumption. They believe that certain ingredients in tap water may increase the risk of kidney diseases such as kidney stones.
However, this view is mainly based on a misunderstanding of scale. Scale refers to the calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate formed by calcium and magnesium ions in water at high temperatures, which will settle in the bottom of the kettle or in the kettle during the heating process. Some people worry that the substances in limescale will accumulate in the body, leading to the formation of kidney stones.
In fact, the calcium, magnesium and other substances in limescale are dissolved in the water itself, and after ingestion in the human body, most of them will be excreted through the normal metabolic process, and the impact on health is minimal.
In addition, scientific research and epidemiological surveys have shown that there is no direct correlation between the hardness of tap water and the incidence of kidney stones. An epidemiological survey in Europe showed that the softness of water quality had no significant effect on the incidence of stones in residents. Domestic studies have come to a similar conclusion, and there is no direct link between the hardness of water quality and the prevalence of kidney stones.
03 Pay attention to these situations in tap water
The water turns yellow
The yellowing of the water can be caused by rust on the inside of the water pipes. This phenomenon is especially common in homes that use old galvanized or cast iron pipes. Although it may not look aesthetically pleasing, yellow water does not necessarily indicate unsafe water quality. Improvements can be made by installing new water pipes or cleaning them regularly.
The water turns blue
If the tap water turns blue, it may be due to the improper use of household toilet cleaning products that have caused chemicals to enter the water system. In this case, care should be taken to avoid excessive use of chemical detergents and ensure that household products are used appropriately.
The water has a foul smell
Off-the-beaten-water odors can come from a variety of sources, including organic contamination, overuse of water treatment chemicals, or biological contamination in the water supply. If the water has an odor, you can try installing a filter or conducting regular water quality testing to ensure the safety of your drinking water.
After understanding, Xiao Li has a clearer understanding of the safety of tap water. He decided to continue using tap water for cooking, while cultivating good drinking habits, drinking plenty of plain water, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In our daily lives, we should be rational about the discussion of tap water safety and avoid being misled by unverified information. Qualified tap water is rigorously treated and tested for chlorine levels that are within safe limits and not sufficient to have adverse health effects. In addition, limescale in tap water, although it may be present, has minimal health effects and does not cause diseases such as kidney stones.
Let us scientifically understand the safety of tap water, cultivate healthy drinking habits, start from small things, and enjoy a healthy and happy life together.