• Question: Why can't we drink saltwater?

    Asked by SeanClause07 to William, Roberto, Karen, Jasmine, Chinna on 14 Nov 2018.
    • Photo: Chinna

      Chinna answered on 14 Nov 2018:

      Seawater contains salt. When humans drink seawater, their cells are thus taking in water and salt. While humans can safely ingest small amounts of salt, the salt content in seawater is much higher than what can be processed by the human body. Additionally, when we consume salt as part of our daily diets, we also drink liquids, which help to dilute the salt and keep it at a healthy level. Living cells do depend on sodium chloride (salt) to maintain the body’s chemical balances and reactions; however, too much sodium can be deadly.

      Human kidneys can only make urine that is less salty than salt water. Therefore, to get rid of all the excess salt taken in by drinking seawater, you have to urinate more water than you drank. Eventually, we die of dehydration even as you become thirstier.

    • Photo: Karen

      Karen answered on 15 Nov 2018:

      In Dubai, the city is kind of in desert, so they desalinate (take the salt out of) the seawater to drink it, it’s quite expensive so the charge the city people a lot for water!

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