Madeeha Syed

Rainwater contains harmful microorganisms that may cause GI diseases like dysentery and diarrhea. Doctors recommend drinking filtered water to avoid illness.

Dancing in the Rain: How ‘Healthy’ is Rainwater?

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Dancing In The Rain: How ‘Healthy’ Is Rainwater?

Overview

Water is the most important element for human survival. We need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and many other essential purposes. Rainwater is one of the sources of fresh water. It is collected from the roofs of houses or from open fields. Here, we discuss whether rainwater is safe for human consumption or not. 
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Effects of Rain Water

Rainwater&nbsp;is not good for your health, as it has harmful microorganisms that can cause many diseases: 
Rainwater serves as an ideal breeding ground for the growth of microorganisms causing diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/cholera">cholera</a>, and <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/typhoid-fever">typhoid</a>. Rainwater contains bacteria and other micro-organisms which are found in the air and soil around us. When rain falls on the ground or surfaces of buildings, these organisms get washed into the water supply. 
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Rainwater&nbsp;contains nitrates and this can act as a nitric oxide donor which can produce methemoglobin in the blood and lead to methemoglobinemia: 
Nitrates are a common component of fertilizers and animal waste. When they get into the soil, they can be washed away by rainwater and end up in our drinking water. Rainwater is also one of the main sources where methemoglobinemia occurs due to nitrates present in it.

It&rsquo;s important to note that not all cases of methemoglobinemia have been linked back to rainwater consumption; however, it&rsquo;s still something worth considering when you consider that most people drink tap water instead of bottled water (which has been filtered for contaminants).

Methemoglobinemia is a condition where the blood can&rsquo;t carry oxygen properly. Symptoms include blue-tinged skin, sleepiness, and confusion. 
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Rainwater&nbsp;contains many hazardous chemicals like lead and methane which can be very harmful to the environment and human health: 
It is a known fact that rainwater contains many hazardous chemicals, like lead and methane, which can be very harmful to the environment and human health.

Lead is a toxic metal, and pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals used in agriculture can end up in rainwater. The EPA has concluded that urban runoff from roads and parking lots also contributes to this contamination as well.

Methane is a greenhouse gas, which means it&rsquo;s a small molecule that traps heat within the atmosphere. It&rsquo;s also produced by living organisms and humans can produce this gas through our own waste products. 
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Hazardous for health

Rainwater&nbsp;may contain dissolved metals like copper, zinc, etc. which are not good for our health: 
Rainwater is also not good for human health. Metals, like copper, zinc, etc. which are harmful to the human body, get easily dissolved in rainwater. These metals can lead to poisoning, skin problems, kidney problems, liver problems, neurological problems, and cancer.

When the water falls from the sky, it gets a decent amount of time in air where it not only absorbs the contaminants and microorganisms, but depending on your environment and the overall pollution rate around you, conserving and collecting rainwater may bring you a lot more harm than good.

Your usual water already has key minerals and beneficial nutrients that are needed by your body all with the right measures taken already to ensure that the contaminants are taken care of, and the water is treated adequately. 
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Bottom Line

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that rainwater is not safe to drink. It can contain a lot of bacteria and parasites that can make you sick if ingested, as well as chemicals like sodium chloride (salt) or other minerals. So, while it may be tempting to fill up a glass from your garden hose when you&rsquo;re feeling thirsty on a hot summer day, it&rsquo;s best to stick with water from our municipal supply instead!