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Researchers who followed nearly 200,000 people in Israel found that those who drank desalinated water had an increased risk of heart disease compared to those who consume natural water.
In a report published Tuesday in the scientific journal Environmental Research, the researchers wrote that over a six-year period, 178,000 people from Clalit Health Services, the largest health care provider in Israel, were monitored. depending on the type of water. Half of the people surveyed were in desalinated water supply areas, while the rest came from communities using natural water.
They found a six percent increase in the incidence of heart disease in those who drink desalinated water, according to a Hadashot TV report on Wednesday night's study. Some researchers have even estimated that the figure could reach 10%.
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Prof. Yona Amitai of Bar-Ilan University, who co-directs the research, said this figure was statistically significant and that it could be attributed to the inability to add magnesium to the desalinated liquid .
"Magnesium plays a vital role in the human body," he said, which is "necessary and important for the proper functioning [its]."
Illustrative photo of a child drinking water. (Moshe Shai / Flash90)
Amitai noted that the researchers have ruled out other possible causes of the difference that could have influenced the results.
According to the Israeli Water Authority, only 1% of desalted water is used to drink and add magnesium as part of the production process would be very expensive. However, some argue that even water used for agriculture should be enriched with magnesium because it is absorbed by the products that people end up eating, says the TV report.
While the idea of introducing magnesium in desalinated water the past, the water authority and the Ministry of Health have not managed to agree on the proposal.
A previous survey conducted by Amitai in 2016 found higher mortality rates among cardiac patients in hospitals where desalinated water was used. Yaakov Litzman attends a meeting of the Knesset Health Committee on July 2, 2018. (Hadas Parush / Flash90)
The previous study prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman to speed up a pilot project to add magnesium to the water.
According to the Hadashot report, up to now, the pilot project has not yet
In a statement, the Water Authority said that the "water" has not been released. desalinated water had been approved by the most stringent sanitary regulations.
"The water in Israel, including desalinated water, is of very good quality stringent requirements for the regulation of drinking water," reads the statement. Ministry of Health is allowed to decide whether magnesium should be added to the diet of Israeli citizens. "
The Ministry of Health said in a statement that the addition of magnesium to desalinated water was delayed "The Ministry of Health is familiar with the data and supports the immediate addition of magnesium to the water to ensure the health of the public," said the ministry. "At our great regret, the Water Authority deliberately raises difficulties to prevent addition. "
Israel has five desalination plants along its Mediterranean cost, in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Palmachim, Soreq and Hadera, which provide about 70% of the country's domestic water. s reduced rainfall depleted natural water resources to the point where they would have struggled to maintain the country's demand for water
Desalination plant in Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast. (Edi Israel / Flash90)
According to Hadashot television, cities and villages close to factories receive 100% desalinated water. The further away communities are, the more natural the water is, with some of the Israeli public receiving purely natural water.
In 2011, the World Health Organization warned that essential minerals are lost in the desalination process and recommended adding magnesium artificially.
