A new study reveals that around one-third of U.S. residents may be exposed to a newly identified breakdown product of some chlorine-based water treatments, called chloronitramide. The substance was detected in 10 U.S. water systems, with concentrations above the threshold allowed for other harmful breakdown products, raising potential risks to human health.
Around one-third of U.S. residents may be exposed to a newly identified breakdown product of some chlorine-based water treatments, a new study reveals.
The Study’s Findings
Researchers have identified the enigmatic substance: a negatively charged molecule dubbed chloronitramide. Its small size – only five atoms – among other factors helped it remain hidden among other breakdown products.
Presence in U.S. Water Systems
-
Chloronitramide was detected in 10 systems in the United States that use chloramines to treat their water, with an average concentration of 23 micrograms per liter.
-
The highest concentration measured a whopping 120 μg/l, which is higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulated concentrations for some breakdown products.
Comparison to Regulated Breakdown Products
In some water systems, the chemical appears in concentrations above the threshold allowed for other harmful breakdown products. Researchers report that this is a concern because it suggests potential risks to human health.
Expert Opinion: Detailed Lab Studies Are Needed
Detailed lab studies are needed to figure out whether chloronitramide may be harmful, according to Beate Escher, a toxicologist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany.
Field Studies Show No Detection in Swiss Water Treatment Systems
Chloronitramide was not detected in Swiss water treatment systems that don’t use chlorine or chloramine disinfectants. However, in 10 systems in the United States that use chloramines to treat their water, 40 samples contained an average of 23 micrograms per liter.
Potential Health Effects and Regulation
The potential health effects of chloronitramide haven’t been studied in detail yet, so the substance isn’t regulated. However, using a web app to do a preliminary assessment suggests that there could be dozens of issues of concern, including toxicity and detrimental effects occurring during prenatal development.
Expert Insights: Beate Escher
Beate Escher, a toxicologist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, notes that many chemicals are formed by chlorination and fluorination processes, making it tough to determine which ones may be causative of disease. Detailed lab studies are needed to figure out whether chloronitramide may be harmful.
