Heavy metals poisoning from tap water in humidifier?

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew the possibilities from slowly developing any form of heavy metal poisoning/toxicity from using tap water in ones humidifier (that may be a bit hard with mineral deposits) over a long period of time like manganese poisoning or something etc? Or doesn't it work that way, maybe it doesn't vaporize into the nose and stays in the tank? Does anyone know the science? Thanks for your any thoughts

matthew2665 wrote:Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew the possibilities from slowly developing any form of heavy metal poisoning/toxicity from using tap water in ones humidifier (that may be a bit hard with mineral deposits) over a long period of time like manganese poisoning or something etc? Or doesn't it work that way, maybe it doesn't vaporize into the nose and stays in the tank? Does anyone know the science? Thanks for your any thoughts

Water vapor molecules are incapable of carrying "anything" (including pathogens) out of the humidifier.......they're too small.
You should be fine, but if you can use distilled water that would be better.


Den

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MOst of us use distilled water....it keeps the humidifier very clean without constant cleaning and the distilled water does not contain minerals.

As Wulfman indicated, the dissolved metal ions have to be dissolved in liquid water. This means that they cannot be carried in the water vapor unless you are getting mist carryover of liquid droplets out of your humidifier. If you are getting mist carryover, it needs to be checked out and probably replaced since the droplets could be carrying things far worse than dissolved metal ions.

What this means is that if you use tap water and do not completely change it out on a frequent basis, these dissolved metal ions will build up until they eventually start forming scale.

It should also be noted that most municipal water systems have very strict controls over the levels of various metal ions that can be in the water. The metals that are normally classified as "heavy metals" have very strict limits. The lighter metals (like sodium, calcium and magnesium) are allowed in higher concentrations because their absence impacts the taste of the water. If you have ever tried drinking distilled or deionized water, you will find that it tastes flat.

Steve

USE Distilled water, like the manuel says, but if your drinking water is so unsafe drinking it will kill you much faster than the HH water will. Be sure not to drink or cook with your drinking water, I'd worry about washing my hands in it. Jim

Raleigh neurology associates are using plain tap water in their sleep clinic CPAP tester. I walked out off their lab in the middle of my titration test but not b/c of this but b/c of the lack of thermostat in my test room.

I would recommend NEVER listening to ANY heavy metal during PAP therapy.

Your water tank evaporates the water to humidify the air, a process which leaves all the heavy metals etc behind. Should you re-condense the moisture you would have distilled water. Certain chemicals etc that vaporize of course could be present, but no heavy metals.

Physics of the process aside, your water tank uses very little water over the course of a night. Even if every bit of it was absorbed by your body, it wouldn't amount to what you should be drinking over the course of a day. Even if all of the "metals" in the water was transferred to you, the amounts would be smaller than what the average person would absorb over the course of a day from drinking tap water.

If you use the water you drink, it's not a problem either way.

If the metals do evaporate or spray into the air stream and get into your body, you won't be getting them any quicker than you will from drinking the water.

If the metals don't evaporate or spray into the air stream, they'll stay behind in the tank. No harm unless you decide to drink the humidifier water. Even then, you wouldn't get any more metal than drinking an equivalent amount of tap water.

I do recommend distilled water. Dump the water every day if you use tap water to keep crud of all types from getting concentrated in the water.

BTW, I'm not 100% convinced all metals remain behind in the water. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal, and it vaporises readily. If you've got much mercury in your tap water, you've already got problems. I don't know if any other heavy metals would do that.

You're supposed to be able to get a thorough analysis of your water from the water company that you use. We get one mailed to us every six months or so that looks very complete. But I still wouldn't use tap water in my humidifier, only distilled water. I'm sure you'll see people saying "I've used tap water for 15 years and am fine", so it's clearly your call. Good luck.

RogerSC wrote:You're supposed to be able to get a thorough analysis of your water from the water company that you use. We get one mailed to us every six months or so that looks very complete.

I believe there is a Federal law that requires them to do that once a year.

My Water Utility also sends them out twice a year, but that is because my local water is really outstanding & they are only bragging.