Risk assessment of haloacetic acids in the water supply of Tehran, Iran

Temporospatial variation and health risk assessment of trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water (northwest Iran)

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are one of the most common classes of disinfection by-products. In this study, the temporospatial trends and health risks due to exposure to THMs in the Tabriz water distribution network were investigated. THM series were analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks due to exposure to THMs were calculated using Monte Carlo simulations. Mean concentrations of THMs in winter and spring were 10.2 ± 9.3 μg/l and 252 ± 185.9 μg/l, respectively. More than 80% of THMs identified were bromodichloromethane. The mean values of lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) of THMs were calculated as 4.23E-06 and 2.38E-04 for winter and spring, respectively. This study showed that there were noticeable levels of THMs in Tabriz water distribution network, especially in the center of the city. Although the non-cancer risk through THMs was below permissible recommended levels, the cancer risk likely remains due to high levels of THMs in some locations.

Age-sex specific and cause-specific health risk and burden of disease induced by exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) from drinking water: An assessment in four urban communities of Bushehr Province, Iran, 2017

Health risk and burden of disease induced by exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs, four compounds) and haloacetic acids (HAAs, 5 compounds) from drinking water through ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation routes were assessed based on one-year water quality monitoring in four urban communities (Bandar Deylam, Borazjan, Bushehr, and Choghadak) of Bushehr Province, Iran. The total average concentrations of THMs and HAAs at all the communities level were determined to be 92.9 ± 43.7 and 70.6 ± 26.5 μg/L, respectively. The dominant components of the THMs and HAAs were determined to be tribromomethane (TBM, 41.6%) and monobromoacetic acid (MBAA, 60.8%), respectively. The average contributions of ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation routes in exposure to the chlorination by-products (CBPs) were respectively 65.0, 15.4, and 19.6%. The total average non-carcinogenic risk as the hazard index (HI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of the CBPs at all the communities level were found to be 4.03 × 10^-1 and 3.16 × 10^-4, respectively. The total attributable deaths, death rate (per 100,000 people), age-weighted disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-weighted DALY rate for all ages both sexes combined at all the communities level were estimated to be 1.0 (uncertainty interval: UI 95% 0.3 to 2.8), 0.27 (0.08-0.75), 30.8 (11.3-100.1), and 8.1 (3.0-26.4), respectively. The average contribution of mortality (years of life lost due to premature mortality: YLLs) in the attributable burden of disease was 94.7% (94.4-95.6). Although in most of cases the average levels of the CBPs were in the permissible range of Iranian standards for drinking water quality, the average values of ILCRs as well as attributable burden of disease were not acceptable (the ILCRs were higher than the boundary limit of 10^-5); therefore, implementation of interventions for reducing exposure to CBPs through drinking water especially in Kowsar Dam Water Treatment Plant is strictly recommended.

Factors influencing DBPs occurrence in tap water of Jinhua Region in Zhejiang Province, China

Investigating the occurrence of disinfection by-products (DBPs) and identify the related influencing factors in drinking water is essentially important to control DBPs risk. In this study, 64 tap water samples were collected from 8 counties (or county level cities) in Jinhua Region of Zhejiang Province, China. Results showed that the median (range) of trihalomethane (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), haloketones (HKs) and halonitromethanes (HNMs) were 23.2 (9.1-40.9), 15.3 (5.8-38.6), 2.2 (0.7-7.6), 2.1 (0.2-6.4) and 0.7 (0.2-2.9) µg/L, respectively. HAAs, HANs, HKs and HNMs levels were generally higher in summer than in winter or spring, while for THMs in most counties, higher levels occurred in winter than in summer or spring. Spatially, Yongkang, Yiwu and Dongyang had higher DBPs levels than Pujiang, Pan'an, Lanxi, Wuyi and Jinhua, which was generally consistent with their economy development (GDP). Correlation analysis showed that DBPs occurrence in tap water was significantly related with physicochemical parameters. Principle component analysis further suggested that organic matter (DOC and UVA₂₅₄) are the major factors influencing the occurrence of THMs, HAAs, HANs and HKs in tap water, while for HNMs, both the organic (DOC and UVA₂₅₄) and inorganic factors (e.g. Temp, NO₂^--N, pH, Br^- and NH₄⁺-N) played important role in its formation.

Removal of precursors and disinfection by-products (DBPs) by membrane filtration from water; a review

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) have heterogeneous structures which are suspected carcinogens as a result of reactions between NOMs (Natural Organic Matter) and oxidants/disinfectants such as chlorine. Because of variability in DBPs characteristics, eliminate completely from drinking water by single technique is impossible. The current article reviews removal of the precursors and DBPs by different membrane filtration methods such as Microfiltration (MF), Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) techniques. Also, we provide an overview of existing and potentially Membrane filtration techniques, highlight their strengths and drawbacks. MF membranes are a suitable alternative to remove suspended solids and colloidal materials. However, NOMs fractions are effectively removed by negatively charged UF membrane. RO can remove both organic and inorganic DBPs and precursors simultaneously. NF can be used to remove compounds from macromolecular size to multivalent ions.