Contaminants Resulting from Municipal Additives - Chlorine Byproducts
In 1972, chloroform, a particularly deadly poison, was detected
in chlorinated drinking water. This detection sparked numerous epidemiological studies. The proponents of such studies intended to investigate the potential health risks of drinking chlorinated water. As a result of these epidemiological studies, scientists discovered a large number of chlorine byproducts found within chlorinated drinking water. Chlorine, in addition to killing or inactivating
pathogens in water, reacts with natural organic matter and/or
the chemical compound bromide in water to produce various organic
and inorganic byproducts. These byproducts include bromate,
chlorite, haloacetic acids (HAA5), and total trihalomethanes
(TTHMs).
Many epidemiological studies indicated an association between
ingestion of chlorinated water and occurrences of bladder cancer
and rectal cancer. A 1991 report, a compilation of 12 different
studies, indicated that 9% of bladder cancer cases and 15% of
rectal cancer cases in the United States. could be attributed
to chlorinated water and chlorine byproducts (Xie, 2004). These
numbers translate to 10,000 cases of cancer a year that can
be credited to chlorinated water!
Each of the four main chlorine byproducts contributes to increased
cases of bladder and rectal cancer, but some byproducts lead
to other adverse health effects, as well. Chlorite can cause
anemia in infants and young children It can also affect nervous
system functioning in both children and adults. TTHMs can cause
nervous system problems, in addition to triggering kidney and
liver problems. There is a positive correlation between TTHMs
in drinking water and spontaneous abortion, as well (Xie, 2004).
The EPA has set
MCLs for chlorine byproducts in drinking water, but these chlorine
byproducts continue to be present, and, even in small amounts,
they can lead to damaging health problems.
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