Iodine Tablets.......

[ManOfTheMount]

I've read through many of the threads here, and have come to the conclusion that most people here geatly dislike iodine. This puzzled me because of the so many advantages of iodine over filters:

1. LIGHT!!!!! a bottle of tablets over a filter any time.
2. EASY No pumping No squeezing, Just drop them in and wait
3. CHEAP No expensive filters, just a bottle for 7.50



I know all of you aregoing to come at me with "but it tastes so bad!"

To tell you the truth, the taste isn't half bad, sometimes better than the water you get. But if you absolutely hate the taste, just put some koolaid or lemonadeor even a squeeze of lemon.

So I ask you this:

Iodine
Filter
Boiling
Who cares about diseases?


PLz vote

[Kevin]

Good points...

... and Crystal Lite also works well to offset the taste

[adk-46r]

The only thing that is good for taste with iodine tablets is "Russian Water"(prefably absolute 200%) and only after consuming large quanities of it.

[Johnnycakes]

I used to use iodine all the time, and never really minded the taste. But, testing over the past few years has shown that iodine does not kill cryptosporidium, another organism similar to giardia with very similar consequences. Crypto does not appear to be as common as giardia, but I have heard of a few people getting it.

Several companies are now marketing products that contain chlorine dioxide, which is similar to iodine in that it is a lightweight chemical treatment, and does kill crypto. The only downside to these products is that you have to wait 1-4 hours to kill the crypto; not very convenient.

So, I use my water filter (PUR Hiker). One thing I do like about the filter is that I can pump directly into the drinking tube of my hydration bladder.

John

[DLHiker]

I was of the understanding that the water had to be warm in order for iodine tablets to be effective. True or not, the taste is what I dislike the most. The pump is easy and effective, and doesn't alter the taste.

[AlpineSummit]

Yep DL, the water does need to be relatively warm. And then there's 'the floaties' that are a part of unfiltered water.

All in all, I much prefer the pump but I do bring the iodine too - just in case the pump gives up the ghost.

Bottom line for me: I want to know what I'm drinking is clean & germ free.

[altec]

I tend to use a filter personally, to get fid of the germs and such, and the "floaties". I like my water clean but I do have a good reason.....

If you read the "A little about yourself" thread, you know that I helped to run a wilderness program at the boarding school that I attended. Well, I decided that I was too thirsty to use a filter on quite a few occasions while we were out there, and I just so happened to get giardia twice. The first time I figured it was just a fluke, and I didnt think anything of drinking straight from the stream over and over again, and sure enough I got it again.

Giardia is not fun. The second time I got it, I had to go to the hospital for dehydration because I could not even hold water down. Not to mention that I had the "anal soup" every 30min.......bad experience.

[mtgoat]

I take it not many here have heard of or tried using bleach for their water. Iodine is bad for the liver and kidneys and is one of those things that will build up in your system that never goes away. Bleach will not be any worse than the water from your tap at home healthwise, is cheaper than Iodine tablets and does not require the water to be warm.

[Kevin]

How much bleach do you use to keep it from being toxic, but strong enough to be effective?

(this IS news to me)

[morrell12]

My water filter only weighs about 5 OZ so this is not a problem for me and it sure does beat the taste of Iodine Tablets!

[spider]

I asked my doctor (he hikes) about the iodine tablets. His view was that it's ok for short term use, then I asked him specifily about the interaction with med I was taking and I got the ok.
I think somewhere it says not to take it more than 30 days.
I use a neutralizer tablet to make the water taste ok.

I have met people who use bleach. Mostly distance hikers on the AT. who use 3 or 4 drops per liter (I think).
I imagine it has the ok as long as you keep it in moderation.


oh ..the iodine should'nt be used if you have thyroid problem if I remember correctly.

you can tell I'm a little cautious to go out on the limb on meds and stuff cuz there are so many "exceptions to the rule" and what not

[mtgoat]

Originally posted by Kevin
How much bleach do you use to keep it from being toxic, but strong enough to be effective?

(this IS news to me)

Add two drops (0.1 mL) of household bleach to 1L of water, shake with the cap loose, and allow the mixture to stand for 30 minutes. Double the amount of bleach and the time if the water is cold, cloudy or odourous.

Also, the following is from the same manual;

Because of potential health concerns (thyroid problems or iodine sensitivity), iodine use is recommended for no more than three weeks per season. Caution must be exercised with the use of crystalline iodine, which is readily available at outdoor equipment shops.

Both the iodine crystals and the iodine solution are toxic and should be kept out of the reach of children. Children and pregnant women are particularly sensitive to iodine so they should avoid it.

Tincture of iodine
Six drops (0.3 ml) of 2% tincture of iodine, the kind commonly sold at pharmacies, will purify 1 L of clear untreated water. Let stand for at least 30 minutes before drinking. For cloudy or cold water add 10 drops iodine per litre of water and increase the contact time up to several hours before drinking.

Iodine tablets
One iodine tablet will purify 1L of water. Let stand for at least 15 minutes before drinking. For cold or cloudy water use two tablets per litre of water and let stand for 20 minutes. A bottle of tablets should be discarded every few months after being opened.

Iodine crystals
To use this method, place 4 to 8 g of iodine crystals in a 35 mL glass bottle with a leak-proof cap. Add 30 mL of water and shake for one minute to produce a saturated solution. Allow the remaining crystals to settle. From the saturated iodine solution, use 15 ml/L of untreated water and let stand for 15-20 minutes.

Here is a link to the Red Cross with some good info.

[spider]

nice link..... very extensive...thanks

[pmagistro]

I have been an avid iodine user for the past several years, and agree with the original post to an extent. It's light, relatively idiotproof, and cheap if you use a saturated iodine solution like PolarPure.

As far as health risks go, I am comfortable that there is almost zero risk associated with consumption of the quantity of iodine used to treat drinking water, even for extended periods of time. (Excepting people with pre-existing thyroid problems or pregnant women.) Medicine for Mountaineering from the Mountaineers cites a few statistics and studies that reinforce that point, if you are interested in learning more. But for now, suffice it to say that medical issues are rarely cause enough for abandoning iodine as a treatment method.

What is valid, however, is that iodine tastes pretty bad (not something you can't get used to though), is ineffective against cryptosporidium, and generally not effective on cold water.

I still use iodine for much of my water treatment, but when it's exceptionally cold out or at altitude, boiling is my preferred method.

There is another treatment available now for folks with larger budgets...the MSR Miox. I just started using this gadget recently, and am highly impressed. No taste, weighs no more than a polarpure bottle, effective against all bugs, including crypto if you wait 4hrs, and able to treat large quantities of water quickly. The only apparent drawback is that it runs on batteries. More info: http://www.msrcorp.com/filters/miox.asp

If you want to be absolutely sure that you are drinking clean, bacteria and virus free water, you pretty much have to use a combination of chemical (or boiling) and mechanical disinfection. However, I refuse to carry that much weight, especially on extended trips.

The last option is not treating your water at all. I believe that more backcountry water supplies are safe to drink than we realize. This proposal is not that ridiculous.....anyone who has used iodine alone would be at risk for crypto. If the water was cold and you didn't warm it first, you probably drank whatever was there originally without effective treatment. And if you have used filters without chemical treatment, you have been at risk for viral infection. Yet how many times have you actually gotten sick from drinking wilderness water?

Obviously, evaluate the quality of the water source before taking a gulp....but if you are in the mountains and you can be relatively sure that nothing has recently defecated in the source above you, drink up.

That said, I still carry iodine or the Miox and only in really remote locations do I drink untreated water.

Sorry for the massive post...hope it helps!

Phil

[JaY]

might be a dumb question....

When you set up camp, you have time to boil water, how safe is that? I figure it should be fine right? I think its 3 mins and all is well. Would this be correct?