Have you ever had a drink from the garden hose? Many people have and most parents probably think nothing of it, but it is a good idea not to. If you look closely, you'll see a warning label on most garden hoses warning you against doing just that.
Why is it a bad idea to drink from a garden hose?
Garden hoses are not intended for drinking water, there are no regulations about what kinds of chemicals can be in them. Most garden hoses are far from natural. They are composed of toxic hormone-disrupting chemicals that may harm your health in numerous ways.
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The Ecology Center, a non-profit research group, tested 21 different garden hoses purchased from popular stores, such as Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, and Walmart. The tested for chemicals like lead, cadmium, bromine (associated with flame retardants), chlorine (which indicates the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC), phthalates, and bisphenol-A (BPA).
One-third of the hoses tested contained high levels of one or more chemicals of concern and 67% were made of PVC. PVC is a significant source of exposure to chemicals known as phthalates, which are used as plasticizers.
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The total phthalate content of the hoses tested ranged from 11% to 18% by weight. All of those made from PVC that were tested for phthalates contained one or more chemicals banned for use in children's products by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Phthalates are one of the groups of "gender-bending" chemicals causing males of all species to become more female. These chemicals have disrupted the endocrine systems of wildlife, causing testicular cancer, genital deformations, low sperm counts and infertility in a number of species, including polar bears, deer, whales and otters, just to name a few. Scientists believe phthalates are responsible for a similar pattern in humans as well.
4.5% of the hoses also contained brominated flame retardants. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) resemble the molecular structure of PCBs, which have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and impaired fetal brain development. Higher exposures to PBDEs have been linked to decreased fertility,2 which could be, in part, because the chemicals may mimic and therefore disrupt your thyroid hormones. Research has suggested PBDEs can lead to decreases in TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). One type of PBDE, decaBDE, is also classified as a possible human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while the others remain largely untested.
Other concerning chemicals found in garden hoses include antimony and lead (14% had lead levels of greater than 100 parts per million (ppm).
Toxic Chemicals Can Lurk in Water from Your Garden Hose:
One of the primary problems with making consumer products out of toxic plastics is that the chemicals can be released into the water that runs through them. If your garden hose is made of toxic plastic chemicals, as it sits outside in the sun those chemicals concentrate in the water.
When the Ecology Center researchers tested water from a hose that was left out in the sun for two days, they found:
1. BPA levels of 0.34 to 0.91 ppm, which is three to nine times higher than the safe drinking water levels used by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
2. DEHP (a phthalate) levels of 0.017 ppm to 0.011 ppm, which is two times higher than federal drinking water standards
3. PVC and vinyl hoses were the worst in terms of leaching phthalates and BPA.
4. Those with copper fittings contained the most lead.
Is There a Safer Garden Hose?
PVC hoses, polyurethane, or, even better, natural rubber hoses are available. You can also find hoses that are "drinking water safe" or at least "lead free." Storing your hose in the shade may also help to minimize the amount of chemical leaching that does occur.
You can significantly reduce your toxin exposure by letting the water run until it's cold before using it. The water that's been left sitting in your hose, and heating up in the sun, will be the most chemical-laden.
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