Activated carbon filters, also known as charcoal filters, are made of small pieces of carbon. They are often in granular or block form and have been acid-treated to become highly porous. They have a large surface area that absorbs and removes harmful substances from water.

Activated carbon filters are very effective in removing all sorts of contaminants. They quickly remove impurities and improve your water’s taste and odor, making it more palatable.

This article will discuss some specific contaminants that activated carbon filters can get rid of.

Contaminants Activated Carbon Filters Can Remove From Your Water

If you’re considering using activated carbon filters, you might be interested in knowing what they can remove. Here are some contaminants:

1. Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals are natural or synthetic chemicals that are found in medications. These chemicals can get into water sources through human waste, manure from agricultural runoff, or through improper disposal of drugs like flushing them into sinks or toilets.

Pharmaceuticals can leach into water sources when accumulated in the environment, leading to bad-tasting water and health problems. Activated carbon filters can help you remove these harmful pharmaceutical wastes in your water.

2. Lead

Lead is mainly found in water carried by old lead pipes. As the pipes get old, lead leaches into the home’s water. Lead levels are usually high in the morning because the water sits in lead-contaminated pipes all night. So if you have lead pipes, the first glass of water you try to drink in the morning will be heavily concentrated with lead.

Fortunately, activated carbon filters will remove most traces of lead in your water.

If you have lead pipes or concerns about your water, check out best-osmosis-systems.com to find out more about how activated carbon filters can help you get rid of lead.

3. Chlorine

Chlorine is a very common disinfectant used for water all around the world. Almost all water providers use chlorine to treat their water before distributing it. Chlorine is usually added to your water supply to eliminate bacteria and other pathogens that cause water to taste or smell bad – and make it a health threat.

Although chlorine has a remarkable capacity for disinfecting water, studies have shown that there are health risks for those who ingest highly chlorinated water, too.

If you’re worried about your water’s chlorine levels, get an activated carbon filter. They are excellent at removing chlorine and the unpleasant taste and smell that comes with it. High-quality activated carbon filters impressively eliminate up to 99% of chlorine in water sources.

4. Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are present in any water source today. As you might guess, having microplastics in your drinking water will affect your health negatively. Plastics do not degrade quickly.

When plastics enter a water supply, they do not decompose like natural materials. Instead, they are broken down into smaller particles by physicality like sand and waves. This means that the plastic bits never truly leave the water; they only become smaller.

A public report showed that the size of the smallest microplastic is 2.6 microns. This poses no problem if you’re using an activated carbon filter. A 1-micron activated carbon block can remove microplastics larger than 2.6 microns easily.

5.

Pesticides and herbicides are chemical substances used to control pests and weeds, respectively. Mainly agro-based industries use them, and they sometimes get into oceans, rivers, groundwater, tap water, and lakes. No matter the amount of water treatment carried out by your local water authorities, some of these harmful chemicals still end up slipping into your home water.

Activated carbon filters can remove all of these impurities, leaving you with cleaner and safer water.

6. PFOS

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a synthetic water and stain-resistant component used to make paper packaging for food and other material resistant to water, grease, or stains.

PFOS contains chemicals that are difficult to degrade; this makes it easy for them to exist in the environment and your water sources for decades. Exposure to PFOS of a certain level over a certain period can have adverse health effects. You might be at risk of developing liver failure, congenital disabilities, and different forms of cancer.

Activated carbon filters have been designed to eliminate any traces of PFOS effectively. If you’re trying to get rid of PFOS, you might want to invest in them.

What Activated Carbon Won’t Filter

Activated carbon filters excel at improving water quality, removing odors, and eliminating chlorine and other contaminants. However, they cannot remove significant levels of metals, toxic organic compounds, pathogens, or fluoride.

Without adding unique filter materials or additional filtration, activated carbon will not filter:

• Radionuclides
• Bacteria, protozoa, cysts, viruses, coliforms, and other microorganisms
• Inorganic contaminants such as asbestos and arsenic
• Copper, most heavy metals, or iron in significant concentrations
• Minerals that are good for you, like magnesium, calcium, and potassium

In summary, activated carbon filters solve most of the water contamination problems that we deal with every day, and although there are a few exceptions that you must look into, it’s still one of the best filtration options in the market.