Compounds in tea neutralize toxins in drinking water, study finds

It's not fun, but even in the United States, access to clean water is not guaranteed. Example: the public health disaster in Flint, Michigan. And while our drinking water has been regulated under the EPA's Drinking Water Safety Act since 1974, many experts do not think it will go far enough. In fact, only about 90 contaminants are regulated under the law, while studies have revealed that hundreds of contaminants supply water.

However, while it is undeniable that we need better regulation of these pollutants, there are still things we can do as individuals to stay healthy even beyond the purchase of an excellent water filter. It turns out that what we eat and drink can play a surprising role in mitigating the negative effects of some chemicals found in tap water.

A new study presented at the 2019 experimental biology meeting reveals that two antioxidants – vitamin C and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – can reduce the damage caused by hexavalent chromium, a contaminant that often enters the body. Water via industrial waste. Fun fact: hexavalent chromium was the carcinogenic chemical shown in the movie Erin Brockovich, and research has shown that more than 200 million Americans, in all 50 states, are still contaminated with water.

For this study, the researchers exposed human cells to a solution containing different concentrations of hexavalent chromium. They noted toxic effects on cells at concentrations of 200 parts per billion (ppb) or more. But – and this is the really interesting part – these toxic effects could be completely blocked by adding vitamin C at 10 parts per million (ppm) or EGCG at 15 ppm. Vitamin C was also able to prevent mutations of DNA in bacteria exposed to the chemical.

Vitamin C is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits, berries and peppers, while EGCG is the main antioxidant found in green tea. It is unclear exactly how much protection you would get by increasing your consumption of these antioxidants in your diet. But, since these compounds are associated with many other benefits, ranging from increased immunity to reduced cancer risk, consuming more will only help you.

The researchers say that the direct addition of these antioxidants to the water supply could counteract the toxic effects of hexavalent chromium. Until there? We will load some lemon matcha and filter our water (with one of those awesome filters) as if our life depended on it.