| In 2006, one California couple joined the many other | | | | anemia. |
| couples who had the daily task of making baby | | | | Later, as the infant becomes a toddler and then a |
| formula. That young pair of adults did not want to be | | | | young child, other medical conditions might present a |
| using tap water to make baby formula. Therefore, | | | | challenge to the child and his or her family. After an |
| they purchased hundreds of plastic bottles containing | | | | infant has been exposed to the contaminants by |
| what they thought to be "safe" water. They | | | | using tap water to make baby formula, then the |
| assumed that their decision to buy bottled water | | | | developing baby might well become predisposed to |
| satisfied their goal-the goal of not using tap water to | | | | cancer, to increased blood cholesterol, to decreased |
| make baby formula. | | | | blood sugar, to problems with circulation or to |
| Unfortunately, that couple did not realize that any | | | | intestinal lesions. |
| water that is bottled in the same state where it is | | | | Sometimes, an infant that has taken in baby formula |
| sold does not need to be any more pure than the | | | | made from tap water suffers mild simple medical |
| tap water in that same state. The chemicals in | | | | problems, such as allergic dermatitis. At other times, a |
| personal care products make their way into the | | | | child might develop conditions that threaten diminish |
| aquatic environment, and then those same chemicals | | | | the quality of his or her life. Such a child might, for |
| eventually show up in both tap and bottled water. | | | | example, suffer from a bone disease, thyroid |
| Chemicals from personal care products represent only | | | | problems or nerve damage. |
| a fraction of the many chemicals that wash into our | | | | Once a child begins attending classes at school, then |
| sewer and septic systems each day. Chemicals from | | | | teachers and parents might suddenly become aware |
| insecticides and pesticides have become a part of | | | | of other problems caused by use of tap water in the |
| the aquatic environment. Chemicals from | | | | preparation of baby formula. The contaminants in |
| manufacturing facilities often get dumped in streams, | | | | that water can cause a child to have an |
| streams that feed municipal water sources. | | | | attention-span deficit or a learning disability. |
| Government studies have revealed the presence in | | | | The idea that any of the ingredients in baby formula |
| tap water of at least 80 contaminants, chemicals that | | | | might harm an infant frightens young parents. Faced |
| can cause all sorts of health problems. Infants that | | | | with evidence about the contaminants in the water, |
| drink tap water can suffer diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, | | | | parents have good reason to swear off using tap |
| pneumonia, headaches, nausea, eye and nose | | | | water. Yet the decision to purchase bottled water is |
| irritation and skin damage. Those are just the medial | | | | not the ideal way to follow-up on a decision to avoid |
| problems that might develop during the child's first | | | | using tap water to make baby formula. |
| year of life. | | | | The filtering of tap water represents a better |
| During the first six months of life, a child's system | | | | solution. An activated carbon filter, combined with ion |
| undergoes rapid development. During that time, an | | | | exchange and micron filtration can remove unwanted |
| infant that takes in harmful chemicals could | | | | contaminants from tap water. Parents can sleep |
| experience shortness of breath, loss of hair or finger | | | | better if they know that their infant has been fed |
| nails, numbness in the fingers and toes or even | | | | formula made with the safest possible water. |