Cilantro Herb May Be Nature's Better Water Purifier Lee Rannals - redOrbit.com
go to original September 14, 2013

Scientists find unique use for spice found in Mexican dishes. (Thinkstock.com)

One favorite ingredient in salsa has been shown to help purify drinking water, according to findings presented at the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

Douglas Schauer of Ivy Tech Community College says that cilantro is an inexpensive way to purify drinking water, helping to remove lead and other potentially toxic heavy metals from contaminated H2O. The spice, also known as coriander and Thai parsley, is cheap, widely available, and commonly used in Mexican and Southwest Asian dishes.

“Cilantro may seem too pricey for use in decontaminating large amounts of water for drinking and cooking,” Schauer said. “However, cilantro grows wild in vast amounts in countries that have problems with heavy-metal water pollution. It is readily available, inexpensive and shows promise in removing certain metals, such as lead, copper and mercury, that can be harmful to human health.”

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