The Benefits of eco3spa Over Chlorine

There is a wealth of evidence that chlorine is harmful to health. For example, the United States Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) has published (Nov 2010 Cas#:7782-5-5) that the following effects have been observed in humans briefly exposed to chlorine: mild nose irritation at 1-3ppm eye irritation at 5ppm throat irritation at 5-15ppm immediate chest pain, vomiting, changes in breathing rate and cough at 30ppm lung injury (toxic pneumonitis) and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) at 40-60ppm death after 30 minute exposure at 430ppm death after a few minutes exposure to 1,000ppm The concentrations listed above are approximate.  The effects will depend also on exposure duration. In general, people who suffer from respiratory conditions such as allergies or hay fever, or who are heavy smokers, tend to experience more severe effects than healthy subjects or nonsmokers. Manufacturers of hot tub chlorine recommend a dosage of 5ppm of chlorine in your hot tub during daily use and significantly higher levels for regular shocking. There is overwhelming evidence that these levels of chlorine exposure are harmful to your body.

Yes! chlorine reacts with organic hot tub contaminants and leads to the formation of potentially toxic disinfection-by-products such as trihalomethanes, halomethanes, haloacetic acids and chloramines. It is these bi-products that cause smell and skin irritation. both chlorine and bromine's biocidal abilities are hindered by water hardness and poor pH control. chlorine disinfection has been found to increase antibiotic resistance. chlorinated water will harm plants and the environment and cannot be discarded onto the garden.

The following table summarizes the benefits of eco3spa. Chlorine eco3spa Step 3 - Water Sanitiser Tablets Chlorine commonly causes skin irritation due to halogen amines generated as a bi-product of the chlorine reaction with bacteria Active Oxygen does not produce halogen aminesare produced and there is no evidence of Active Oxygen causing skin irritation Chlorine produces potentially carcinogenic trihalomethanes There is no carcinogenic effect known to be related to Active Oxygen Chlorine has an unpleasant smell caused in part by the chlorine reaction with bacteria. The only smell from eco3spa will be an occasionally fresh, clean 'Ozone-like' smell Chlorine is only effective over a very narrow pH range and the reaction of chlorine with bacteria causes pH changes, resulting in a need for constant testing and water balancing eco3spa sanitiser tablets are unaffected by normal water pH and have been shown by our own research to be effective over the range pH 7.0 - pH 8.0.  Documented research in the academic literature indicates the efficacy of Active Oxygen as a biocide over a much wider pH range. Chlorine tablets are highly acidic, resulting in corrosion and damage to plastic hot tub parts, cushions and covers eco3spa sanitiser tablets are pH neutral Chlorine bleaches swimwear, pillows, cushions, covers, other surfaces and hot tub parts eco3spa sanitiser tablets do not bleach at the concentration advised

Adding chlorine to hot tub water is not straightforward. You need to get the Total Alkalinity, pH and Calcium Hardness levels in your water just right before you add any chlorine product (this process is otherwise known as 'balancing') . If you don't balance the water the chlorine becomes ineffective and won't kill all of the bacteria. Just the process of adding chlorine granules or tablets to the water has a tendency to alter the water pH value so you need to constantly keep testing and adjusting the water's balance. It can be a never ending loop! These effects are well documented in the academic literature. In contrast eco3spa has been shown to be effective over an extremely wide pH range and our own research has demonstrated that its effectiveness is virtually unchanged between pH 7.0 and pH 8.0. What's more, the eco3spa Step 2 Water Conditioner contains a pH stabiliser so, if you do need to adjust your pH because your source water is outside the pH range 7.0 - 8.0, you only need to do it once when you fill your spa up and then you don't need to worry about it again until your next water change.