A new study published in the journal Science has uncovered that a widely used water disinfectant produces a potentially toxic byproduct, raising concerns over public health implications and prompting calls for immediate investigation.
Inorganic chloramines, used for decades to eliminate pathogens from public water supplies, serve as the disinfectant for one-third of the U.S. population and millions more globally, including regions in Asia and Europe. While chlorine remains the most prevalent disinfectant worldwide, chloramines have become increasingly popular as they reduce certain byproducts associated with health risks such as bladder and colon cancer, low birth weight, and miscarriage.
“However, chloramines themselves decompose into products that are poorly characterized,” said Julian Fairey, the lead author of the study, during a press briefing.
One such byproduct, known for over 40 years but previously unresolved chemically and labeled only as the “unidentified product,” has been identified by Fairey and his team as the chloronitramide anion.
Through a combination of traditional chemistry methods and advanced techniques like high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the researchers detected the compound in all 40 chloraminated drinking water samples tested. The concentrations reached up to 100 micrograms per liter, surpassing typical regulatory limits for disinfection byproducts, which range between 60 and 80 micrograms per liter.
“The chemical structure looks concerning, as do the concentrations at which this compound is forming, so we certainly think health effects studies are warranted,” Fairey stated.
Despite the absence of toxicological studies on chloronitramide anion, the findings have raised alarms. The study urges that the compound be considered “an immediate candidate” for quantification in public water systems and calls for comprehensive health and toxicity assessments.
Water utilities may need to reconsider their disinfection strategies. Fairey suggested that returning to chlorine could be an option, although this would necessitate the use of secondary disinfectants to neutralize known toxic byproducts produced by chlorine.
With regulatory action potentially years away, the researchers recommended that concerned individuals use home filtration systems equipped with activated carbon blocks as a precautionary measure.
This discovery highlights the complex challenges in ensuring safe drinking water and underscores the need for ongoing research to protect public health.
Reference(s):
Study: Common water disinfectant creates potential toxic byproduct
cgtn.com
