To: Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr., Mayor of Tulsa, OK, The Oklahoma State House, The Oklahoma State Senate, and Governor Kevin Stitt

Stop the use of chloramine in Tulsa's water supply!

Stop the use of chloramine in Tulsa's water supply!

Why is this important?

Tulsa's water supply has recently been treated with chloramine. If you drink tap water you have probably noticed. There are significant health risks associated with chloramine. Chloramines are derivatives of ammonia.

Adding chloramine to the water supply can increase exposure to lead in drinking water, especially in areas with older housing; this exposure can result in increased lead levels in the bloodstream and can pose a significant health risk.

There is also evidence that exposure to chloramine can contribute to respiratory problems, including asthma, among swimmers. Respiratory problems related to chloramine exposure are common and prevalent among competitive swimmers.
Chloramine use, together with chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet, have been described as public health concerns and an example of the outcome of poorly implemented environmental regulation. These methods of disinfection decrease the formation of regulated byproducts such as alkyl chloroforms, which has led to their widespread adoption. However, they can increase the formation of a number of less regulated cytotoxic and genotoxic byproducts, some of which pose greater health risks than the regulated chemicals,causing such diseases as cancer, kidney disease, thyroid damage, and birth defects.