Drinking Water Myths Tough to Swallow

Forbes suggests ways to keep workplace calm, healthy

(NEWSER) - Stressing out at work can negate the effects of that heart-healthy oatmeal you had for breakfast, Forbes reports. To avoid being that one of every three Americans with cardiovascular disease, adopt these work-day habits:

1. Drink water instead of cola, coffee, or tea.
2. Take the stairs; walk a few blocks at lunch.
3. Stretch your upper back and neck after sitting for a while.
4. Forget the value meal; keep lunch light.

How can honey, black pepper, and egg shells help you?

(NEWSER) - Need to disinfect a wound? Use honey, not hydrogen peroxide. While hydrogen peroxide can prevent healing, honey is a good alternative because it's quite antibacterial. That's just one of the weird health tips rounded Listverse:

• To stop bleeding: Clean your cut, then sprinkle black pepper on it and apply pressure. Nope, it won't sting, but pepper has antiseptic, analgesic, and antibacterial properties.
• To lower your cholesterol: Take Metamucil—one study found it will work to decrease bad cholesterol, at least in men. Bonus: It also helps to lower blood sugar and blood pressure.

Industrial pollutant hexavalent chromium found in 31 of 35 cities surveyed

(NEWSER) - Those who thought Erin Brockovich was just a decent movie might want to check their drinking water: An environmental group has found the probable carcinogen featured in the film in the tap water of 31 of 35 US cities it analyzed—the first such study of hexavalent chromium to be made public. Topping the list of offenders were Norman, Okla., Honolulu, Riverside, Calif., and Madison, Wis. "Our municipal water supplies are in danger all over the US," says Brockovich. "This is a chemical that should be regulated." More»

Massachusetts governor declares state of emergency

(NEWSER) - Tap water in most of eastern Massachusetts is unsafe to drink following a water main break yesterday in a suburb west of Boston. Some 2 million residents must boil water for at least 1 minute before drinking it, making baby formula, or brushing their teeth, a situation one official described to the Globe as "everyone’s worst nightmare in the water industry." More»

EPA fails to enforce water safety laws

(NEWSER) - Illegal concentrations of arsenic, radioactive materials like uranium, or bacteria have been found in more than a fifth of American water supplies in the last five years. Regulators were notified of the violations but penalties were imposed in only 6% of cases, according to a New York Times analysis of federal data. Contaminated water supplies affected some 49 million people—in some cases for years. More»