Stephanie Angione, Ph.D.  |  Scientific Contributor

Editor's Note: In this week's article, Dr. Angione tackles one of the biggest pseudoscience topics in the water industry: ionized/alkaline water.  We wrote this article because alkaline water generators cost thousands of dollars and provide no measurable benefit to users.

What Is Alkaline Or Ionized Alkaline Water?

By definition, alkaline water is water that has a pH greater than 7. This can occur naturally in water sources when dissolved minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, silica and bicarbonate are present. This type of naturally occurring alkaline water is generally referred to as mineral water. Other bottled sources of alkaline water have substances like bicarbonate added, increasing the overall pH and alkalinity of the water.

However, certain water ionizer machines claim to create alkaline water by separating tap water into acidic and alkaline water streams through electrolysis. The manufacturers of such machines (and their affiliates) have made many health claims, which are not backed by any conclusive clinical trials of ionized alkaline water. Whenever an article says "studies showed that..." you'll want to take a close look at the study. We'll be doing this in a series of follow up blog posts.

How Does A Water Ionizer Claim To Work?

The water ionizers on the market claim to create alkaline water through electrolysis. The idea is that water is split to form hydrogen and oxygen by an electric current, so that water near the anode is acidic and water near the cathode is alkaline. The idea is that you can then siphon off acidic or alkaline water using a tube next to the cathode or anode.

Here's the problem: That's not really what's happening. Pure water or water with relatively low mineral content conducts electricity very poorly, so it can't undergo electrolysis to any significant extent.

To get around this, water ionizers use “enhancement solutions” which essentially allow the user to add salt to increase the conductivity of the water and thus make the “strongest ionized water” with the device. When a solution of sodium chloride undergoes electrolysis, sodium hydroxide (dilute drain cleaner) is created at the cathode, which can be drawn off as “alkaline water.” At the anode, chlorine builds up and if it is combined with hydroxide ions at the cathode, creating a hypochlorous acid, the protonated form of laundry bleach. A water ionizer is essentially a very expensive way to create dilute solutions of household chemicals.

What Does Ionized Alkaline Water Claim To Do?

Is ionized alkaline water healthy? Manufacturers of ionizers and alkaline water claim that it neutralizes acid in the blood and throughout the cells and organs in the body, which prevents all forms of diseases including cancer. This is completely bogus because...

How Does Alkaline Water Consumption Alter Blood pH?

It doesn’t. The human body has a highly effective buffering system to maintain blood pH between the ranges of 7.35 and 7.45. Severe medical conditions occur when the blood pH drops below 7.35, called acidosis, which is usually a result of metabolic, kidney or respiratory problems. Additionally, if the blood pH is too high, the resulting medical condition is alkalosis, which can also be the result of respiratory disease, or when concentration of minerals in the body are too low. The bottom line is that in healthy people, whenever the acid-base balance in the blood is off, the body will regulate it through the respiratory and renal systems.

The buffering system in the body also maintains the acid-alkaline balance in each of the organ systems- for example the stomach is much more acidic than any other system, with a pH around 2. The fact remains that our blood pH is fairly constant and is not affected by what we eat or drink. If our bodies were affected by consumption of acidic and basic foods so readily, our blood pH would be constantly changing, causing all types of unpleasant physiological symptoms!

Additionally, while alkaline water created from water ionizers may have a higher pH than tap water, it has low alkalinity, or low ability to neutralize acid. To think of it in a slightly more approachable way... alkaline water's impact on your stomach's pH is comparable to the cooling effect of putting a drop of room temperature water into a large pot of boiling water.

What’s The Bottom Line On Ionized Alkaline Water?

The claims of health benefits of alkaline water are bogus and manufacturers of water ionizers are peddling high priced pseudoscience (remember... pseudo means sham/fake). And here at Hydroviv, we are dedicated to debunking pseudoscience to protect both you and your family.

If you are concerned about the quality of your water at home, it is best to get a water filtration system that can remove contaminants from your drinking water. 

Do You Have More Questions?

Hydroviv makes it our business to help you better understand your water. As always, feel free to take advantage of our “help no matter what” approach to technical support! Our water nerds will work to answer your questions, even if you have no intention of purchasing one of our water filters. Reach out by dropping us an email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. You can also find us on Twitter or Facebook!

Analies Dyjak  |  Policy Nerd 

Our blog has been following PFAS contaminants such as the GenX chemical for months now, often reporting on new developments before mainstream news.
Today marks an important milestone: EPA has released a draft toxicity profile for GenX. This long-awaited toxicity report contains critical information for many states who have been seeking answers on this harmful contaminant.

EPA’s Draft Toxicity Assessments for GenX and PFBS:

EPA determined a candidate Chronic Reference Dose of 0.00008 mg/kg-day. A reference dose is the daily oral intake not anticipated to cause negative health effects over a lifetime. A reference dose is not a carcinogenic risk factor, however, EPA states that the toxicity data for GenX are “suggestive of cancer.” According to the draft report, oral exposure in animals had negative health effects on the kidney, blood, immune system, developing fetus, and liver. The draft toxicity report also provided information on PFBS, which is a replacement chemical for PFOS. The candidate Chronic Reference Dose for PFBS is 0.01 mg/kg-day, and there was insufficient data to determine its carcinogenic potential.

What Is GenX?

GenX is part of a category of contaminants called PFAS, or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The GenX chemical linked to cancer has gained national attention since being discovered in the Cape Fear River in June of 2017.
PFAS have historically been used in consumer products like Scotchgard, Gore-Tex, Teflon, and even the inside of popcorn bags. PFAS are also used in firefighting foam, which is the major source of its pollution in waterways across the country.

Background:

The Chemours plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina produces refrigerants, ion exchange membranes, and other fluoroproducts. They have been discharging liquid effluent into the Cape Fear River for years, which has contaminated drinking water for the entire area. GenX is the replacement chemical for PFOA. After PFOA was discovered to be toxic, manufacturers addressed the issue by making an equally-as toxic replacement. Manufacturers of PFAS have been doing this for years, which is why there are so many different variations present in the environment.

Is GenX Federally Regulated By EPA?

No. This means that municipalities are not required to test for PFBS or GenX in water. Additionally, this draft toxicity level is not a lifetime health advisory level, which states would be more inclined to follow.

When Will A Drinking Water Standard Be Determined?

Don’t hold your breath on anytime soon! The regulatory process can take decades, especially for such a persistent contaminant in the environment. This is more than enough time for adverse health effects to set in, and we recommend consumers do everything they can to learn about their water and protect themselves, rather than wait for the government to step in.

What Does This Mean For Me?

EPA is in the very early stages of determining a regulation or even health advisory for GenX. This draft toxicity level needs to go through public comment so that states, tribes, and municipalities can offer input and recommendations. If you want to see third-party data on filters that remove GenX in water and other PFAS, click HERE. 

Analies Dyjak | Policy Nerd

October 4, 2018- Elon Musk and The Musk Foundation confirmed a donation of $480,350 to Flint, Michigan Community Schools in hopes of addressing lead contamination in drinking water. Flint is one of many school districts across the country that has been working hard to generate long-term solutions for lead contamination in drinking water. This article examines whether the proposed filtration technology will effectively remove lead from drinking water. 

How Will The Funding Be Used?

Musk initially announced the filters would comply with FDA’s 5 parts per billion standard (which is actually the standard for lead in bottled water), instead of EPA’s 15 part per billion Action Level. While definitely lower than EPA's threshold, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control have both acknowledged that there is no safe level of lead for children. The Musk Foundation has not released the exact type of water filters Flint, Michigan Community Schools plans to use. Press releases have indicated some type of ultraviolet filtration system. 

What Is UV Water Filtration?

Ultraviolet filtration eliminates biological contamination from drinking water. This includes bacteria, viruses, and harmful microorganisms like E.coli. The idea behind UV filtration is it prevents microorganisms from reproducing, by striking each individual cell. It’s comparable to and often more effective than using chlorine to kill bacterial contamination.

Does UV Filtration Filter Lead?

No. While UV filters are great at removing biological contamination from drinking water, they have several limitations. UV filters by themselves are not able to remove chemical contaminants including Volatile Organic Compounds, chlorine, lead, mercury and other heavy metals. To remove chemical contaminants (including lead), a UV-based system would need to be paired with lead removal media or reverse osmosis.

Our Take

Contrary to a lot of media reports, UV filters do not remove lead from water, so we're hoping that the UV is paired with a system that removes lead. We also hope that the filters are installed at the point of use, because water treated by a point of entry filter can accumulate lead in any pipe "downstream" of the filtration unit. 

Analies Dyjak, M.A. | Head of Policy and Perspectives

**Updated 9/21/2021 to include recent studies

What Is 1,4-Dioxane?

1,4-dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical, typically used as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents. It was historically used in the production of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), which was phased out in 1985 after scientists determined it to be an ozone-depleting substance. Today, 1,4-dioxane is not typically added directly to consumer products but can be an unintentional byproduct in certain plastics. It’s introduced as a trace contaminant in certain ingredients, most commonly detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers and solvents, including Polyethylene Glycol or PEG.  

Is 1,4-Dioxane Regulated?

1,4-dioxane in drinking water is not federally regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, even though EPA has classified it as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all exposure routes.” There are health advisories in place but a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) does not exist. This means that unless a state has its own enforceable standard, utility providers are not required to remove it from drinking water. 1,4-dioxane is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for indoor workplace air quality. 1,4-dioxane is on the fourth drinking water Contaminant Candidate List and is also part of the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. In 2019, New York State became the first state to regulate 1,4-Dioxane by establishing Maximum Contaminant Limits (MCL) of 10 ppb in cosmetics, and 2 ppb in personal care and household cleaning products by 12/31/2022, which will be further reduced to 1 ppb by 12/31/2023.  

How Does 1,4-Dioxane Enter Drinking Water?

1,4-dioxane has contaminated drinking water through both groundwater and surface water. Many instances of groundwater contamination are a result of 1,4-dioxane being used in various manufacturing processes. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1,4-dioxane can easily travel into groundwater because it is extremely soluble in water and does not stick to soil particles. 

1,4-dioxane contamination on Long Island, New York was a result of routine spills or direct disposal of solvents to the ground from manufacturing operations between the 1950s to the 1990s. 

1,4-dioxane was used in the manufacture of medical filters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The methods of waste disposal used between 1966 to 1986 resulted in 1,4-dioxane being released into the environment, causing widespread groundwater contamination. 1,4-dioxane in drinking water continues to be a concern for local residents, even decades after the pollution was first discovered and remediation was to have been taking place. 

1,4-Dioxane has also been released into surface water, both into rivers or public sewage systems. Sources of contamination include effluent from industrial facilities as well as wastewater treatment plants.   

1,4-Dioxane Health Effects In Drinking Water

1,4-dioxane can harm the eyes, skin, lungs, liver, and kidneys. As previously stated, 1,4-Dioxane is classified by the US EPA as a likely human carcinogen. Like other contaminants, the dose and duration of exposure affect the likelihood and severity of adverse 1,4-dioxane health effects.

Why is 1,4-Dioxane So Hard To Remove From Drinking Water?

1,4-Dioxane is completely soluble in water. It dissolves completely, even at high concentrations. It also does not readily evaporate. Traditional treatment methods are ineffective at removing 1,4-Dioxane from drinking water, so a few larger municipalities have begun to incorporate specialized methods for 1,4-Dioxane removal in their processes. These can be prohibitively expensive for smaller municipal water suppliers, so there is not likely to be a widespread solution for 1,4-Dioxane removal implemented any time soon.  

What Can I Do if I Have 1,4-Dioxane in My Water?

There are no federal testing standards for 1,4-Dioxane, so we are unable to provide removal data. Hydroviv’s filters have however been tested and certified by NSF to remove VOC’s with similar chemical properties to 1,4-Dioxane. Most submicron pore size carbon block filters are able to address 1,4-dioxane, with the exception of granular activated carbon. A slower flow rate will also assist the carbon block filter by ensuring enough contact time with the 1,4-Dioxane and the filtration media. For example, Hydroviv drinking water filters incorporate carbon into our submicron block and at our 1 gallon/minute flow rate.