I have traditionally used the old backpacker standby for water purification in the backcountry…iodine tablets. AKA “Potable aqua.” They always worked for me…never got sick. When I’m on the trail, humping it and thirsty as hell, the iodine tasting water never bothered me.
Now this chlorine dioxide water purification thing has come out. And at first I was really excited about it, as the stuff reportedly kills EVERYTHING and the water taste isnt as bad as iodine.
So that part about chlorine dioxide is a good thing…
But then I read that chlorine dioxide oxidizes iron and nickel. That concerned me. I did some googling and came across some EPA websites that indicated chlorine dioxide makes a fantastic water purification treatment, but it oxidizes iron. I asked a pharmacist about this and he told me that this could potentially cause anemia.
I was recently diagnosed with iron deficiency, without anemia. My blood work is OK, but my ferritin levels and other iron tests are a little low. I take iron supplements. My pharmacist told me to maybe consider going back to potable aqua.
I just wanted to point this out to the surfers here, if anyone has any knowledge on the relationship of chlorine dioxide as a water treatment chemical and its effects on iron in the body, Id be interested in hearing what you have to say.
Another reason I am bringing this up is my doctor told me that iron deficiency is uncommon in men and that my iron deficiency was probably caused by too much fast packing, too much mileage. He said its called “march hemoglobinuria” and its caused by repetitive footstrike during long forced marches (fastpacking in rugged mountain terrain) or doing a lot of marathons.
He said the military first realized that long foot marches could cause iron deficiency in men. The constant loadbearing and footstrike busts small capillaries in the feet and lower limbs, leading to iron deficiency and possibly anemia.
http://www.innvista.com/HEALTH/ailments/anemias/sportsan.htm
I am just wondering if this common combination of heavy mileage combined with a trail diet low in red meat and fresh green veggies, combined with regular use of chlorine dioxide water purification treatment is a recipe for iron deficiency in the male, ultra-light backpacker?
Vlad
