Is lithium added to drinking water?

Lithium is a naturally occurring element and is found in variable amounts in vegetables, grains, spices and drinking water. It is present in trace amounts in virtually all rocks, and is mobilised by weathering into soils, ground and standing water, and thus into the public water supply.

Does drinking water have lithium?

Lithium concentrations highest in “old” groundwater and groundwater in arid regions. A new USGS study reports that about 45% of public-supply wells and about 37% of U.S. domestic supply wells have concentrations of lithium that could present a potential human-health risk.

Is lithium in water good for you?

In addition to protecting against suicidality, lithium also appears to protect against cognitive decline. In a nationwide study conducted in Denmark, researchers found that exposure to higher levels of lithium in drinking water correlated with lower rates of dementia.

Does bottled water have lithium?

Several studies have shown that various bottled waters are rich in Li; the highest values reported (9860 and 5450 µg Li/L) were from bottled waters from Slovakia [32] and Armenia (Hankavan-Lithia: 5.45 mg Li/L).

Is lithium in water harmful?

Get Tested | Lithium. Like many contaminants in drinking water, this element is potentially hazardous at levels or concentrations that do not impart a noticeable taste, odor, or appearance to the water.

Vox: Why Not Put Lithium In The Drinking Water

Why do they put lithium in water?

Recent population studies suggests that the lithium found in drinking water could reduce the risk of suicide and possibly contribute as a mood stabilizer (8–10).

What drinks have lithium in them?

The soft drink 7Up was originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" when it was formulated in 1929 because it contained lithium citrate.

How much lithium is in drinking water?

The mean lithium levels found in the drinking water samples ranged from just 3.8 micrograms per litre (μg/L) to 46.3 μg/L, with a few communities peaking above 80 μg/L.

Does distilled water have lithium?

If you're concerned about lithium in your water, the good news is that lithium compounds have very high boiling points and because of this, distillation should easily remove them virtually 100%. Pure water is still the best and always will be.

Do we need lithium in our bodies?

Many studies have shown that a deficiency in 'endogenous' lithium, i.e. lithium in food and drinking water, can lead to defects in growth and development in animals and to grave psychopathological problems in humans.

Why do people drink lithium?

Descriptions. Lithium is used to treat mania that is part of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). It is also used on a daily basis to reduce the frequency and severity of manic episodes.

What foods are high in lithium?

Lithium in Food Products

The main sources of Li in the diet are cereals, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and some mineral waters [44]. It may also be found in some spices such as nutmeg, coriander seeds, or cumin; however, their share in the total supply of this element is negligible in many geographic regions [49].

How do you remove lithium from drinking water?

Lithium, along with other cations, can be removed from water with a strong acid cation exchanger such as AmberSep™ G26 H Resin. However, since lithium has a very low affinity compared to most other cations, leakage from the resin will occur ahead of the more attracted ionic species in the matrix.

Do water filters remove lithium?

Charcoal filters reduce up to 90% of lithium in drinking water.

Why distilled water is not suitable for drinking?

Distilled water lacks even electrolytes like potassium and other minerals your body needs. So you may miss out on a bit of these micronutrients if you drink only the distilled stuff.

What city has lithium in the water?

The Lithia Springs, an ancient Native American sacred medicinal spring, with its natural lithium-enriched water, is renowned for its health-giving properties.

What soft drink has lithium in it?

When 7-Up was first invented, one of its ingredients was lithium salts. In fact, the fizzy drink was originally known as “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda,” according to the Huffington Post.

What does lithium does to the body?

Lithium helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania — the elevated, euphoric end of the mood scale — and may help to treat bipolar depression. If you have been at risk of suicide, lithium may help reduce these feelings. Lithium also helps prevent manic and depressive episodes occurring in the future.

What damage can lithium do to your body?

The most concerning side effects of long term lithium use are hypothyroidism and kidney problems. According to a 2015 review article , these side effects are most likely to affect women below the age of 60 years. They are also more common among people with higher-than-average concentrations of lithium in the blood.

How do you get lithium out of your body?

The most appropriate method of lithium removal is hemodialysis, particularly if the patient demonstrates signs and symptoms of severe lithium poisoning or is having a renal failure due to its small volume of distribution and marginal protein binding [28].

What are the symptoms of lithium toxicity?

In mild lithium toxicity, symptoms include weakness, worsening tremor, mild ataxia, poor concentration and diarrhea. With worsening toxicity, vomiting, the development of a gross tremor, slurred speech, confusion and lethargy emerge (Bauer and Gitlin 2016).

Does caffeine raise lithium?

Heavy caffeine consumption can affect the blood levels of lithium, a mood stabilizer that doctors commonly use to treat bipolar disorder. The body excretes lithium in the urine. As caffeine is a diuretic, it may lower the levels of lithium in the body by increasing the urine output.

What is the largest source of lithium?

With 8 million tons, Chile has the world's largest known lithium reserves. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons).

Do lemons contain lithium?

As a rule, fruits contain less lithium than vegetative parts of plants (vegetables). Lemons and apples contained significantly more lithium, with about 1.4 mg kg⁻¹ dry matter, than peas and beans, which, like the different kinds of cereals grains, are extremely lithium-poor as seeds.

What is the natural form of lithium?

There are two forms of lithium available to consumers: there is a natural form of the metal/mineral bound to orate (lithium orotate), considered to have neuroprotective characteristics. And there is its pharmaceutically synthesized counterpart (lithium carbonate).