Chlorine is added to nearly every municipal water supply to kill bacteria. The EPA permits up to 4.0 mg/L — the same concentration as swimming pools. Chloramine is used by roughly half of US utilities and is harder to remove. As disinfectants react with organic matter in pipes, they form trihalomethanes — a class of compounds the EPA classifies as probable carcinogens.
Chemical Disinfectants
Chloramine · Chlorine
Trihalomethanes
Dibromochloromethane
Both chlorine and chloramine strip the skin's natural oils, damage the lipid barrier that retains moisture, and are identified risk factors for atopic dermatitis, eczema, and chronic dryness. Our in-vitro data shows skin cells grow 20.61% faster and recover from damage 69% faster in Filterbaby-filtered water vs. tap.
Volatile organic compounds enter water from industrial discharges, fuel runoff, and agricultural sources. Herbicides like atrazine and glyphosate leach from farmland into groundwater. Phthalates migrate from plastic pipes and packaging. Most are odorless and colorless — undetectable without testing.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Benzene · Vinyl Chloride · Toluene · Carbon Tetrachloride · Trichloroethylene · Xylenes · Tetrachloroethylene · Styrene · Dichloromethane
Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
Benzo(a)pyrene · Epichlorohydrin
Herbicides
Atrazine · Glyphosate · 2,4-D
Pesticides
Carbofuran
Phthalates
Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP) · Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) · Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) · DEHP
Liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Benzo(a)pyrene is a known carcinogen. Several VOCs and herbicides are classified as probable human carcinogens by the EPA. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. Dermal absorption during showering is a primary exposure route — not just drinking.
Heavy metals enter water through aging lead pipes, industrial discharge, and natural mineral deposits. Microplastics shed from infrastructure and packaging. Biological contaminants including bacteria, parasites, and cysts pass through conventional municipal treatment in varying concentrations. Filterbaby's UF membrane filters to 0.014 microns — smaller than any bacterium.
Heavy Metals
Lead · Mercury · Chromium (hexavalent) · Cadmium · Barium · Antimony · Beryllium · Thallium
Plastics
Microplastics
Microbiological
Bacteria · E. coli · Coliform Bacteria · Giardia Lamblia · Cryptosporidium · Parasites · Heterotrophic Plate Count
Lead causes neurological damage with no safe exposure level. Heavy metals accumulate in tissue over time. Chromium (hexavalent) is a confirmed carcinogen. Biological contaminants cause acute gastrointestinal illness and infection. Microplastics deposit directly on skin and scalp with every wash.
Tested
Stds
- NSF-42 StandardChlorine and aesthetic contaminant reduction. Faucet filter tested at 2.00 ±0.20 mg/L chlorine concentration, 3.00 ±0.20 L/min flow rate.
- Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)Verified ultrafiltration membrane pore size of 0.014 microns. CAS is an ISO-accredited testing body equivalent to NSF for material verification. Full NSF certification in progress (IAMPO).
- FSDA January 2026Independent lab verification of shower filter contaminant removal. Confirms chlorine, chloramine, and lead removal rates across filter lifetime.
- 3rd-Party In-Vitro (Feb 2025)Performed in triplicate. MTT cell viability assay, scratch wound assay, ATR-FTIR molecular analysis on human keratinocytes and human volunteers.
Full list of filtered contaminants
FSDA 2026 · 3rd-party certified| 0% More skin cell growth | 0% Faster wound recovery |
|---|---|
| Keratinocytes grew 20.61% faster in Filterbaby-filtered vs. unfiltered tap water over 48 hours. Verified in triplicate. | Tap water: 33.2% wound closure. Filterbaby: 56.14%. Same cells. Different water. Certified scratch assay. |
| 0% Lipid barrier increase | 0% Skin moisture increase |
| More than doubled lipid activity vs. tap water. ATR-FTIR molecular analysis on human volunteers. | Corneometer measurement at 150 min. Stratum corneum moisture level, clinically measured. |
| 0% Water retention | 0% Clinical skin hydration |
| ATR-FTIR water level elevated 17.7% in Filterbaby-filtered vs. unfiltered US tap water. | Objectively measured hydration increase. 35-participant clinical study, CE Way Lab 2020. Soft Plus Hydration Probe. |
The scratch assay. The moisture barrier study. The 14-day clinical hydration data. All on the next page.
Full methodology, participant data, and the 30-day consumer outcomes from 160 participants across diverse skin types and age groups.
See the full skin study data →* In-vitro study: 3rd-party certified in-vitro study of Filterbaby Skincare Faucet Filter, February 2025. Performed in triplicate.
** Filtration results: 3rd-party lab certified testing to NSF-42 standards. When used and replaced as directed. ±6% efficacy fluctuation from lab certified testing. Full NSF certification in progress.
Individual experiences and results may vary.
