Does reverse osmosis remove hormones and steroids
The short answer is yes; reverse osmosis efficiently removes hormones and steroids from the water. However, to get a detailed answer to this question, you have to go through this blog post till the end.
In this article, I am going to discuss how reverse osmosis eliminates hormones and steroids from the water, along with other essential information as well. I can assure you that it will going to be quite worth reading this article.
Understanding The Presence of Hormones & Steroids
Before heading towards our main topic, it would be good if you understand hormones and steroids. There is no doubt that hormones and steroids can be present in the water as a contaminant, all due to various sources.
Hormones can enter water through multiple sources. For instance, excreted hormones from human and animal waste can find their way into naturally occurring water resources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater and end up polluting them.
Additionally, hormones that are used in agriculture practices, such as livestock farming, can also get their way into the water due to runoff or leaching.
On the other hand, steroids, especially synthetic ones, can also be present in regular water. Synthetic steroids are generally used in medical treatments and can get their way into water sources due to improper disposal or excretion.
In simple words, the presence of both hormones and steroids in regular water has become a major concern. This is so because their presence in the water can have a severe negative impact on human health.
Now that you may have an efficient idea of hormones and steroids, it is now time to head toward our main topic.
What is Reverse Osmosis & How Does It Remove Hormones and Steroids from Water
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a popular water purification technique that is used to eliminate a wide range of contaminants from the water. The contaminants include hormones, steroids, chemicals, metals, sediment, and many more. This technique is used with a combination of water filters that are known as reverse osmosis filters.
These filters remove hormones and steroids from the water by forcing it to pass through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane only allows small water molecules to pass through it while blocking larger molecules that contain hormones and steroids.
In general words, the RO filters force regular water to pass through the membrane, filtering out all the impurities and contaminants, including hormones and steroids, and providing water that is safe and clean.
Signs That Will Tell Your Water is Polluted with Hormones and Steroids:
There are multiple signs that will let you know that the water is polluted water with hormones and steroids.
1. Strange taste or odor:
Water that is polluted with hormones and steroids will have a strange taste and smell. But it is important this sign will not alone confirm that the water is contaminated with hormones or steroids. Instead, the presence of other impurities, such as heavy metals, sediment, etc., can also change the taste and smell of water.
2. An unexpected change in water quality:
If you have experienced sudden changes in the water quality, such as discoloration, increased turbidity, cloudiness, etc, then this is an indication that either hormones or steroids have got their way into your water.
3. Get water tested by from a laboratory:
I know this is not a sign, but can greatly help you to determine whether your water is polluted with hormones and steroids or not.
All you have to do is just take a water sample and submit it to the laboratory staff. They will provide text about the water sample and provide a detail report about what kind of contaminants it contains.
Remember, if keep consuming hormones and steroids-affected water, you may experience some serious health problems. Some of the common ones are discussed in the heading below.
Health Risks Associated With Consuming Hormones and Steroids Affected Water
It is highly crucial to efficiently water with reverse osmosis, otherwise, you will get exposed to the following health threats.
1. Endocrine disruption:
The hormones and steroids in water can also act as endocrine disruptors and interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. Both these can also block natural hormones, which will further result in hormonal imbalance in the body.
2. Reproductive issues:
Continuous exposure to hormones and steroids will have a great negative impact on reproductive health for both males and females. According to medical experts, it can result in reduced fertility, hormonal disorders, altered menstrual cycles, and birth defects in children who are not even born yet.
3. Increased risk of cancer:
Some research and studies suggest a potential link between exposure to certain hormones and steroids and an increased risk of different types of cancer, including prostate and breast cancer. However, keep in mind that further research is needed to establish a strong connection.
4. Environmental impacts:
Do you know? Hormones and steroids in the water can also have severe impacts on ecosystems and aquatic organisms. The presence of both these can greatly damage the reproductive cycles of aquatic species, resulting in population decline and ecological imbalances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is reverse osmosis the best option to remove hormones and steroids?
Yes, reverse osmosis is considered one of the most effective solutions to remove hormones and steroids from the water. RO filters operate on advanced filtration technologies and remove a range of impurities with 99.99% accuracy.
Are there any alternatives for removing hormones and steroids from the water other than reverse osmosis?
Yes, there are multiple water treatment methods other than reverse osmosis also available that you can consider using in order to remove hormones and steroids. These methods include ion exchange, activated carbon filtration, etc.
Wrapping up
Reverse osmosis can efficiently remove hormones and steroids from the water, making it completely safe to consume.
In this article, I have discussed how reverse osmosis removes them in detail. I have also explained some common signs about the presence of hormones and steroids in the water, along with their negative impacts on human health.