Talk:Distilled water

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[edit] Health effects

I feel that under "Health Effects", there should also be a discussion of how distilled water leeches toxins from the system.

There should be nothing similar, either about beneficial effects of leeching toxins or harmful ones of leeching minerals and nutrients. Once distilled water dissolves even a tiny bit of minerals or anything else, it would then be only as pure as non-distilled water, and therefore couldn't have any unusual ability to suck out anything. Ken Arromdee 22:20, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

There's an old Usenet post on this point: "Body osmolality is about 280 milliosmols, and your average springwater might run 20 or 30. The difference between there and zero, so far as you cells care, is nothing." [1]

i.e. no, it doesn't matter if you drink ordinary tap water, spring water, or distilled. Can someone find some more references, or at least recast the above so it isn't a direct steal? Jeh 18:40, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

The linked FAQ points to a site that sells home distillation kits, perhaps this isn't the most unbiased of sources. Jmeeks 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I have also heard that drinking distilled water is bad - it leaches minerals from your system. But I can't find anything to support this. Health Canada's website on drinking water says, "There are no known beneficial, nor harmful health effects associated with the ingestion of demineralized or distilled water." Activated carbon filters are mentioned as they can become saturated or can lead to bacterial growth. They also advise against drinking softened water because of high sodium. Hmm. So where did that concept come from? 198.103.161.1 14:52, 1 September 2006 (UTC) Dalila

The concept probably came from a water filter supplier who would rather consumers bought water filters instead of water distillers -- MightyWarrior 15:44, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

There is a staggering amount of unscientific twaddle and nonsense that I've seen when looking at a number of so-called "explanations" for the use or and for the non-use of distilled water. It appears that U.S. "health" web-sites can get away with writing complete non-truths and fictious "science" with impunity (that is, without fear of punishment). -- MightyWarrior 15:44, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

• This uncited statement was challenged the other day, and it seems worth of discussion: "A purported effect of drinking water in its pure form is a 'more powerful solvent' that helps cleanse toxins from the body." Can anyone confirm or refute this statement? Chemically, demineralized water is a more potent solvent, but in the biological environment of the human body, I don't know that this enhanced solvency holds. Anything definitive would be very useful.E8 04:02, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] distilled water in home sterilization

I would like to know what any expert opinion would be on using distilled water in home sterilizing of medical equipment for people recieving homecare. We were told to boil a few items for the nurse who was coming in, but the stainless steel items soon began to rust. I asked the nurse about using distilled water instead and she clearly didn't know anything about it or really what I was talking about so now we are using plastic items instead of stainless steel, but there is always a film on the water after we boil the plastic so I'm going to try getting high-grade stainless steel medical items and boil them in distillled water.

I have been able to find NOTHING really useful or specific on the web about home sterilization or the use of distilled water in home sterilization and yet it is something that so many people have to do.

I would really like to hear about any research or specific protocols that have been developed for home sterilization and use of distilled water. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Luckypenny (talk • contribs) 19:43, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Um, the section about home water purifiers sounds suspiciously commercial to me.

[edit] health

My biology teacher in the 12th grade told us that drinking distilled water (more than a glass or two) can be very harmful to your body due to the unbalanced amount of solutes. She said that osmosis in the cells would take in more water to make up for the decrease in solutes outside of the cell. In class we demonstrated this with an earth worm. We bathed the earth worm in distilled water and after an hour or so he died. His cells became hypotonic and basically exploded, she explained. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.144.46.232 (talk) 05:25, 17 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] HEALTH ISSUES

I am going to take out the "adverse health effects" unless someone points out to a good article stating that indeed drinking distilled water is dangerous. This can not be right! Distilled water is water. The only difference is that minerals give some flavor to water. But the idea that such a solution is so hypotonic that it will "suck" out minerals from the body is nonsense. As another person pointed out, tap water (contains some minerals) is also hypotonic to almost every single fluid in the human body. Also, the GI system is well protected from such events. This assumes that human cells are not protected by water channels, mucus, and powerful ion pumps that take care of the fact that we drink HYPO- and HYPER- tonic solutions ALL THE TIME!!!Reefpicker 02:59, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Seems fine to me. The linked summary-of-a-study indeed supports your text and not the previous. I hate when people do that. Jeh 06:51, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

I think you should include this information with citations: "tap water (contains some minerals) is also hypotonic to almost every single fluid in the human body. Also, the GI system is well protected from such events. This assumes that human cells are not protected by water channels, mucus, and powerful ion pumps that take care of the fact that we drink HYPO- and HYPER- tonic solutions ALL THE TIME!!!" This seems like the information need in the "Pros and Cons" Section.E8 14:14, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

• Removed tangential/questionable section Reefpicker commented on; replaced with similar, more specific information, complete with two new citations from peer-reviewed sources. I think this section is far from complete, but at least it now contains some valid information.E8 14:14, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

• Is this statement --> "The cost of distilling water (about 0.04 to 0.10 Euro or USD per litre in 2005) prohibits its use by most households worldwide," related and/or necessary? I think it needs to be located in another, more appropriate, section or removed.E8 14:14, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for taking the time to add that information. I think its a lot better now. I still do not think that drinking Distilled water has any effects on the mineral balance in the body but oh well, I do not have time to look for information in the primary sources. Also, it should be pointed out somewhere that the addition of minerals affects the taste of water. I dont think thats there. Reefpicker 21:21, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

• Restored recent edit by Gnowitall. I feel the detail removed was useful as this site has international readers. A change in wording would be fine if the same level of detail is maintained. Thanks

[edit] Another 'myth' type statement that could be added

I have also seen examples of super-cooled pure (distilled) water which does not actually freeze when cooled below 0 degrees centigrade. However, the water can immediately turn into ice with just a simple tapping of the container or when it is poured out. This could be included under the 'myth' section. 124.185.39.152 22:10, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Overall cleanup

This article is a bit of a mess and could use a cleanup from someone who actually knows a lot about the topic. 68.101.130.214 02:31, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

Your comment is rather snide. Are you implying that contributions thus far, are not factual? Please sign if you expect your main page comments to remain.E8 16:00, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Distilled water

Just a wild thought: Is water collected from a hehumidifier considered to be distilled water? It is great for the plants in the house. Thank U 69.136.152.186 01:56, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

Wouldn't it be a bad idea to water most plants with distilled water? Wouldn't it drain them of nutrients if you let excess water run out of the pot as you water? Just a thought.--Bfesser 02:48, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Distilled ocean water?

I'm assuming that you can take ocean water, distil it and drink it. Would I be correct in this assumption?

Yes.

Is this where most distilled water comes from?

No.

[edit] Steam generator irons - using distilled water

I've just discovered that my brand new steam generator iron requires replacement filters at a rate of 12 per year. The yearly cost for these works out at two thirds of the total purchase price (subject to increases in postal charges). I am not amused. "A" Level Chemistry memory to the rescue! It's somewhat hazy unfortunately, however, isn't it the case that distilled water, when boiled, leaves no residue? As such, it'd be ideal for the iron. Has anyone some informed comment for me, please? Hettymarkson 13:03, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pros and cons

I made this section independent of the "Drinking distilled water" section as it contains a discussion of costs as well as health issues. E8 01:43, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Aviation use

My source is the book named "Boeing 707/720 - Jim Winchester

Airlife's Classic Airliners". Airline mentioned to use it was Qantas. RGDS Alexmcfire

1) According to Boeing 707, these airliners have been out of service for over two decades. The application is interesting, but without further detail on why it was necessary to use distilled water, it appears irrelevant (merely trivia). Can you provide more detail? 2)You still need to properly cite this source. 3)Your addition is fragmented. Please edit for readability.--E8 (talk) 01:38, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Humidor

I removed the fact tag from the humidor application. This information is readily available on the web and is mentioned on the Humidor main.--E8 (talk) 01:58, 24 January 2008 (UTC)