Probably all of us, including even small children, are well aware that you can not drink water from the sea: it is not fresh, and therefore unacceptable and not suitable for the human body. However, few people think about why such water is not perceived by our body.

About seventy percent of our entire planet is water. And literally: oceans, seas, lakes and so on. At the same time, only three percent of all water in the world is fresh, that is, suitable for drinking! Moreover, it would seem that there is water both there and there, so why is it possible to drink one (although not recommended), while the other is absolutely impossible? The thing is that sea and fresh water are similar to each other only in appearance.

If we bring samples of liquid from a lake and from the sea or ocean to the laboratory, and then compare them at the level of molecular structure, we will immediately see that their composition is completely different. In addition, we should not forget about the fundamental importance of the absence of salt in fresh water. Sea water, on the other hand, is not only disgusting in taste (everyone who has swum in the sea or ocean at least once knows this), but also extremely dangerous for human life and health.

Some believe that in the most extreme case (for example, a shipwreck or something like that), you can and should quench your thirst with salt water, but this is fundamentally wrong. Such drinking will help only for a while, but then the desire to drink will return with a new, much greater force. This is a road to nowhere, because water with salt is toxic to humans.

The thing is that any liquid is carried through the liver and kidneys. This is a kind of filter in the system of our body. A large amount of salt, which is part of sea water, easily settles in these vital organs, which very quickly leads to their inflammation and disease. The kidneys do not have time to remove salt from the body, it lingers inside, forming stones. The further development of events is already obvious: without medical care, a person is doomed.

Imagine for yourself: in one liter of water from the sea or ocean there is up to forty grams of salt! This is just a crazy amount, given the fact that for normal functioning a person needs to drink at least one and a half to two liters of fluid per day. Remember, for comparison, how much salt do you put in your cooking? One, two, three spoons? Now imagine a good few dozen of these spoons. That's the same thing.

Thus, drinking sea water during a hypothetical shipwreck (we sincerely hope that this never happens to you), you will quench your thirst for only a couple of hours, but later you will want to drink even more, so much so that you have to drink even more salty liquid. The body will begin to work for wear and tear, trying to overcome the oncoming dehydration, because in order to remove all the salt, you need a lot of urine.

As a result, after a few days of such a drinking regime, your kidneys will simply fail, and then problems with the entire gastrointestinal tract will begin. In short, this will only delay the inevitable and make death even more painful (of course, if qualified assistance is not provided in time). In general, there is little pleasant.

Water is the basis of life on our planet. No living being can live long without it. Although in nature there are species that do without moisture for quite a long time, but in the end, if they do not find a source, they will die. 80% of the entire Earth is covered with water, but only 3% of it is suitable for human consumption. So why can't you drink sea water?

Favorite vacation

The sea and ocean beckon a person to them, especially in very hot weather. Everyone loves to come to the big water, lie in the sun, cool off in the coolness of the sea breeze and swim. But when you are thirsty, not a single person goes to the seashore to fill a bottle and quench their thirst. Yes, and while swimming, this water probably got into everyone's mouth, and they immediately spat it out, went ashore and drank clean fresh water. Why is this happening? Can you drink sea water? No, it is strictly prohibited due to its specific composition.

Salt concentration

One liter of liquid from the sea contains about 40 grams of salt, while a person should consume at least 3 liters per day. But at the same time, he can digest salt no more than 20 grams per day. Simple mathematics shows that if you drink 3 liters of sea liquid, you will overdose, which will lead to very serious consequences. The kidneys are an organ that processes all the minerals that have entered the body. The main routes of waste excretion are urination and sweating. If someone decides to experiment and take a sip of salt water, then the kidneys will have to work in a mode of increased complexity. Such a huge load they will not be able to. The salt that remains after this liquid must be extracted from the body. And this will happen only if it is dissolved in fresh water. But there is nowhere to take it from, so for survival it will be pumped out of the tissues. The fluid will become sorely lacking, and dehydration will set in. This will lead to the gradual failure of all vital systems of the body and, if the situation is not quickly corrected, to death. That's why you shouldn't drink salty sea water.

Chlorides and sulfates

In addition to salt, which will dry out a person from the inside, the composition of the sea fluid includes a variety of biogenic substances (metals, sulfates, chlorides), which must also be processed and removed. But here, too, there is a problem, because this process also requires fresh water. And its number is decreasing very quickly. Cells are clogged with these substances, which become poison for them. They slowly begin to die. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to drink sea water in order to survive can hardly be answered in the affirmative.

Sodium sulfate

In addition to the above, there is another compound in the marine fluid that is worth mentioning separately. It's sodium sulfate. In medicine, it is known for its strong laxative effect. This will lead to even greater dehydration of the body, as a result of which the poisoning will only worsen. If this process is not stopped in time, then the person will go crazy, and the internal organs will die from irreversible changes. And this is another answer to the question of why they do not drink sea water.

Dangerous experiment

Although every self-respecting traveler or scientist knows about the dangers of drinking liquid from the depths of the sea, there are daredevils who refute all previously known studies. One of them was Alain Bombard, who tested for himself what would happen if you drink sea water. This man was a doctor and a biologist. He was trying to find ways to help people survive a shipwreck in the open ocean. He himself crossed the Atlantic in 65 days. This period was very difficult for him. He survived only by fishing. The fish served him both as food and as a source of drinking water. He personally designed and manufactured a special press that squeezed life-giving moisture out of marine life. But he decided to go even further. Every day he drank liquid from the ocean in small portions. This led to very severe dehydration, and by the end of the trip, Alain Bomber had lost as much as 25 kilograms. Thus, he was able to prove that a small amount of sea water daily may not kill a person.

Ocean dwellers

If salty liquid is so dangerous, then why do fish feel great in it? Why can't people drink sea water, but for them it is their home? The tissues of these creatures contain salt in very small quantities. This gives them the opportunity to absorb fresh water when eating each other. In addition, they have an excellent salt excretion system, and the kidneys have absolutely nothing to do with it. They are very small in fish and do not play a special role. They were replaced by a desalination machine. It is located in the gills. Cells, which are only found in marine life, purify the blood from salt and bring it out along with the mucus. This adaptation provides the fish with a long and carefree life in the depths of the ocean.

A vital necessity

From the foregoing, it is completely clear why sea water cannot be drunk. But what if a person finds himself in the middle of the ocean without a supply of fresh liquid? You can follow the example of Alain Bombard and squeeze water out of fish that still need to be caught. The second option is water desalination. This procedure can be carried out in several ways. These are distillation, separation, freezing, electrodialysis, direct and reverse osmosis. Naturally, in the middle of the ocean it is simply impossible to conduct most of them. But something needs to be done. In order for the water to become fresh, it must be poured into a deep dish, preferably dark in color. This container is lowered into a plastic bag and tightly tied. The sun, which is abundant in the ocean, will heat this vessel and evaporate the water. The steam will settle on the walls of the bag and flow down. And if this homemade device is lowered overboard, then the condensation process will go much faster.

First aid

60% of our body consists of water, so the loss of most of it leads to very dangerous consequences. What should you do if you are around someone who is showing symptoms of dehydration? Everything is very simple: you need to give him a drink, but he should do it in small portions. But you can't get by with just water. You also need to replenish the supply of glucose, as it will help the rapid absorption of fluid. This formula of salvation was developed back in the 1960s, but it has not changed much to this day. Therefore, the water that the victim drinks should be slightly sweetened. After a strong desiccation of the body, a whole range of procedures and the intake of many drugs are needed to help restore damaged cells and tissues.

Thus, speaking about why sea water cannot be drunk, it is worth mentioning the terrible consequences of such actions. It poisons the body, kills all the internal organs and drives you crazy. The amount of salt that can enter the body with one liter of sea water is 2 times the amount that human cells can handle. Therefore, it is not worth experimenting with this.

Sea water is the entire vast mass of liquid in the oceans and seas of the entire globe. Although the sea waters of the entire planet communicate with each other, the content of salts and impurities in different places may vary slightly.

What is included in it

The chemical composition of salty sea water includes almost the entire periodic table. Chemicals, elements and their compounds in the form of salts are washed out of the rocks of the seabed and gradually dissolved in the ocean.

Therefore, the salinity of water (as density and temperature) is distributed vertically - from the bottom to the surface. Minerals are contained in the form of ions, so sea water is an ionized, slightly alkaline solution.

1. In addition to the usual oxygen and hydrogen (H 2 O - pure water), sea water contains 3.5% salts (that is, 35 g of salt per 1 liter of water).
2. The largest amount is common table salt (NaCI) at 27.2 g, which explains the salty taste.
3. 3.8 g of magnesium chloride (MgCI 2) and 1.7 g of magnesium sulfate (MgSO 4) give the "marine solution" a bitter taste.
4. The share of calcium sulfate (CaSO 4) accounts for 1.3 g, potassium salts (KCI) - a little less than a gram.

In total, these salts make up 99.5% of all mineral salts, while the remaining chemical compounds account for only 0.5%.

It must be said that the high content of useful minerals in sea water is too exaggerated, judging by its chemical composition. Ordinary salt water is a solution of purified sodium chloride NaCI and is devoid of other minerals.

To drink or not sea water?

In addition to the fact that sea water is rather unpleasant in taste, bitter-salty, it is very harmful to the body, you can’t drink it!

All fluid that enters the body is "filtered" by the kidneys. The huge salt content in sea water will force the kidneys to work with an increased load, very quickly lead to the formation of stones - the kidneys cannot cope with such an amount of salt.

In some bays and lagoons, into which the fresh waters of the rivers flow, the salt content is much lower than the average. In extreme, vital situations, it is permissible to use lightly salted water for a short period - 5-7 days.

Is it possible to quench your thirst with sea water

Perhaps everyone has ever heard and knows for sure that you can’t drink salty sea water. But still, unforeseen circumstances happen when people find themselves on the high seas without a supply of fresh water (or some other emergency). What to do in this case? It is impossible to quench your thirst with ocean waters and you cannot drink from the sea!

100 g of sea water contains such an amount of salts that the body needs 160 g of pure fresh water to remove the salts. In the absence of fresh water, the body mobilizes its own reserves, and dehydration will occur even faster.

The more a person drinks liquids from the sea, the more the body loses fluids, intoxication (poisoning) with harmful impurities will occur, for example, magnesium sulfate, which is part of the salts, causes a severe upset of the gastrointestinal tract.

The World Health Organization has repeatedly conducted various studies, all of which confirmed that it is strictly forbidden to drink sea water to quench thirst, as it destroys the body.

Efficacy for skin and hair

How harmful salt-saturated sea water is for internal use, it is so useful for external use - baths, face masks, and just swimming in the sea has a beneficial effect on the skin, nails, hair.

Thousands of sanatoriums, resorts, hospitals work on the use of the beneficial qualities of natural salts and minerals. Mud clinics are especially effective, using saturated silt mud for the treatment of a number of diseases and general healing of the body.

The list of trace elements that have a beneficial effect on human health includes 26: bromine, potassium, iodine, calcium, sodium, magnesium, etc. Sea baths strengthen the immune system, improve metabolism, cleanse pores and help remove toxins. Swimming in the sea hardens the body, 10-12 days at the resort provide vitality for the whole year!

After swimming in the sea, there is no need to rush to take a fresh shower, you need to give time for the beneficial minerals to soak into the skin, nails and hair. From sea water, nails stop exfoliating, crumbling.

No less beneficial is the effect of sea water on the scalp and hairline. The ionic form of trace elements contributes to their rapid assimilation by hair scales, a quick effect is noted: the sebaceous glands are cleansed and fat is absorbed, the skin is disinfected and hair is strengthened.

Getting fresh water

The oceans occupy more than 70% of the globe. Only 3% of the Earth's surface is allocated to fresh water. Mankind is already facing the problem of its shortage in many regions of the planet, so the desalination of sea water is one of the most pressing issues.

There are a number of companies in the world that, using modern high-tech methods, have achieved high results in this industry. In a number of countries there are powerful installations for desalination, which is successfully used for the needs of the population.

Water desalination is carried out in different ways:

• chemical;
• electrochemical (dialysis);
• ultrafiltration method;
• freezing;
• distillation.

Each of the methods is used in various spheres of human activity.

Conclusion

1. Sea water is saturated with mineral salts and other chemicals.
2. Sea water in its pure form is not suitable for drinking, it can cause severe intoxication and dehydration.
3. The high content of useful trace elements has a beneficial effect on the skin and hair.
4. Desalination of sea water will help meet the human need for fresh water.

In contact with

Surely you have been to the sea many times, right? And we are sure that you are aware of the fact that sea water cannot be drunk, unlike fresh water. But why? After all, visually it does not differ from drinking. In fact, even animals do not drink sea water, as it does not quench their thirst and has a strange taste. In addition, its use can be harmful to health.

Why you can not drink sea water: answers to questions

How often films are shown about those who were in the middle of the ocean and died of thirst. But how? There is so much water around! Yes, there is a lot of it, but it is marine and if you use this liquid regularly and in large quantities, there will be a threat to your life.

Why can't you drink sea water? She is unfit for drinking. And the matter is not only in taste, but also in danger to life and health. Using it, there is a risk of death, as it leads to a decrease in the functionality of organs. Here are some reasons why it is forbidden to drink sea water:

High salt concentration. 1 liter of liquid contains 30-40 grams of salt, and this is a very, very much. The daily requirement of the human body for salt is no more than 20 grams. The daily human need for water is 2-3 liters. It follows that after drinking 2 liters of sea water, your body will receive about 60-80 grams of salt.

A high concentration of salt leads to the fact that the kidneys do not work normally. It is they who must remove the substance from our body. The more a person consumes salt, the worse the kidneys work, because they do not cope with their task. Thus, when the salt concentration is exceeded, dehydration of the body occurs, the body loses moisture.

Sea water contains chlorides, sulfates, heavy metals . These substances accumulate in the cells and poison the body. Therefore, if you accidentally took a sip and drank sea water, you need to drink fresh water as soon as possible in order to eliminate all of the listed substances from the body.

Magnesium sulfate - this substance has a laxative effect, it washes out all the vitamins from the stomach and intestines. It also speeds up the process of dehydration and intoxication.

Violation of the nervous system. When a person consumes liquids, hallucinations may begin after some time. The thing is that the substances contained in the water enter the blood, and through the blood - into the nervous system. It is not affected immediately, but gradually - after 1-2 days of drinking liquid.

Problems with the heart and blood vessels. An excess of sodium chloride leads to a violation of the rhythm of the heart, blood circulation, and even to coma.

Sea water can only be drunk after the desalination process. Thanks to modern technology, scientists have learned how to remove excess salts from the liquid. But it is unlikely that you will find such water in stores.

If you can’t drink it, how did people survive after shipwrecks? IN There are only cases when a person was in the sea or ocean without fresh water for weeks. According to scientists, the secret is that they ate raw fish. Fish contains moisture that our body needs, albeit in small quantities.

Consequences of drinking sea water

Such experiments with health can lead to death. Dehydration, salt poisoning, mental disorders (hallucinations), damage to organs and systems, death - these are all possible consequences of drinking sea water.

If you are going to drink sea water for the sake of an experiment and look at the reaction of the body, we advise you not to do this in any case. Why? This threatens with serious complications and dangerous diseases. Take care of yourself!

Can you drink sea water? This question has been answered in the negative for a long time. The fact is that the human body is not adapted to removing excess salts that would come with sea water. Marine fish and birds have special glands through which brine drops are released. By the way, earlier, when they did not know this, they could not keep, for example, albatrosses in the zoo. It turns out that the water for them must be salted, because special glands work all the time, and if the albatross drinks fresh water, he will die from a lack of salts.

In the instructions to the crews of sea vessels, there has long been a point that in the absence of fresh water, you cannot drink sea water. However, recently the opinion about sea water has changed somewhat. Facts have become known about people who drank sea water of low concentration and remained alive. So, for example, during the Great Patriotic War, one soldier was carried away in a boat far from the coast in the Sea of ​​Azov. He had no food, no walkie-talkie, no fresh water. For more than a month he drifted on the sea, drank salt water, ate raw fish and remained alive.

In seas with low salinity, it can be drunk if necessary. On ships, sometimes they even began to add it to food to prevent diseases in the tropics. Doctors recommend taking sea water orally for some gastric diseases (of course, not for everyone and in certain doses).

An interesting, although, at first glance, strange, circumstance is the almost exact coincidence of the percentage composition of salts in sea water with the composition of human blood. However, if we recall that the primary forms of life originated hundreds of millions of years ago in the ocean, and later highly organized creatures descended from them, then such a similarity will not seem surprising.