Chlorine isn't just used in swimming pools, but since it's pretty obvious from the smell that lingers on her skin and the fact that she's often dry and itchy after a day in a pool, it's what Girlawhirl thinks of first when she hears the word chlorine. But what she tends to forget is that the water that comes into her apartment, the stuff she showers in and brushes her teeth with most likely also contains chlorine.

Since the turn of the century, chlorine has been used to disinfect public water supplies, so seven out of ten American households receive chlorinated water, whether they know it or not. The chlorine helps to prevent the spread of diseases that thrive in water, but some studies have shown that people who have chlorinated water have a higher risk of certain kinds of cancer, like bladder and colon, as well as skin conditions like eczema and other rashes, sinus trouble and even allergies and asthma.

And when Girlawhirl takes a hot shower, chlorine and other volatile organic compounds that may have formed when the chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water can evaporate into the air, which means that while she's taking a deep relaxing breath, she's also inhaling all of… that. In fact, she's actually taking in more of those compounds than if she drank her tap water.

So, what should she do? She's already replaced her showerhead with one that has a fabulous filtering system. And when she's just got to soak in the tub, there's the chlorine ball (which makes a wonderful baby shower gift as well). She's also switched from regular bleach to oxygenated varieties that are safer to have around the house and much better for the environment.

Girlawhirl bought her chlorine reducing bath ball and sunflower showerhead in her online shopping mall at gaiam.com