I wonder why seawater can not be drunk?
Everyone must have seen at least one movie, inwhich shows how people are tormented in the open sea, who were shipwrecked. And it's not because it's hot and cold, and not because you want to eat. It's a terrible thirst, because they say that you can not drink seawater. A logical question arises: "Why?"
Explain why you can not drink seawater, you candifferently. The simplest explanation may be that in sea water contains a huge amount of salts (about 30 grams per liter), besides, it differs significantly in physical and chemical composition from fresh, suitable for consumption of water. The thing is that the amount of salt that is in the sea water, the body simply can not recycle. Yes, and thirst, it does not quench even at first.
The fact that you can not drink seawater has already becomeit is clear from the simpler, the above explanation. But how does the body react to seawater consumption? Now that's interesting. After all, it would seem, liquid is the liquid. But not everything is so simple. Everyone probably knows that every day a person should drink about 3 liters of water for the normal functioning of their body. But water can get to the body not only in its pure form, but also with food. There is bewilderment: after all, salt also enters the body. Yes, it is necessary to maintain the water-salt balance, but it is needed in much less quantity than in seawater. So, what happens to the body after consuming sea water? As already mentioned, the amount of salt that is in it, the body simply can not normally process it. Kidneys begin to actively work to remove accumulated salts from the body. And for this, more water is required. It turns out a vicious circle. The more sea water a person consumes, the worse, because the salts are not removed, accumulate in the body and begin to destroy it. Therefore, among the tips on how to survive the shipwreck, one can find those who say that it is better to consume salt water at a minimum, because it can prolong life for a maximum of 3-4 days, and harm to the body in case of rescue will be irreparable, and after that you can even remain disabled. That's why you can not drink seawater.
But there can be a logical question: "And what can we do to survive if there is simply no other water around?" After all, knowing why sea water can not be drunk, a person can simply refuse to do this. Here it is necessary to look for other sources of fluid. So, the greatest problem with fresh water in the open ocean. But there are also marine inhabitants who can be consumed, and from which you can try to suck at least some liquid. This recommendation is given by the French doctor A. Bombard, who thus managed to survive in the open ocean without fresh water.
And can, it is possible?
Find out if you can drink seawater, you canget on and people who claim that you can still consume it. And this is true, but there is one nuance: only after its desalination. This can be done by distillation, separation, freezing, electrodialysis, as well as direct and reverse osmosis. The easiest and most accessible way is evaporation. It can also be used in the open sea, having constructed a desalter from improvised materials. Knowing why you can not drink sea water, it is better to desalinize it at least a minimum.
