Water Treatment Practice and the Formation of Genotoxic Chlorohydroxyfuranones

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kronberg
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Treatment Practice ◽  
Chlorine Disinfection ◽  
Related Compounds

It is generally known that chlorine disinfection of drinking water that is derived from surface water leads to the formation of mutagenic compounds. A very significant portion (in some cases over 60%) of the mutagenicity has been attributed to the presence of various chlorohydroxyfuranones (CHFs). Besides producing mutagenicity in bacterial assays, the CHFs have been reported to alter the genetic properties of animal and human cells. Recently, one of the compounds, namely 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), was shown to be a potent multiorgan carcinogen in rats. These findings have led to concern about the health effects associated with the mutagens in drinking water. This paper is a short review of the work aiming at the identification of hydroxyfuranones and related compounds in disinfected drinking water. In addition, results are presented that show how change in water treatment practice is reflected in the mutagenicity of the drinking water and in the concentration of the main mutagen, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX).

Water Treatment Considerations–Aquatic Humus

1983 ◽  
Vol 15 (S2) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
E T Gjessing
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Humic Substances ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Aquatic Humus ◽  
Treatment Considerations

For several reasons the surface waters in cold climate areas are coloured due to humic substances. There are two major objections against humus in drinking water, the first is concerned with aesthetical and practical problems and the second is due to indirect negative health effects. There are essentially three different methods in use today for the removal or reduction of humus colour in water: (1) Addition of chemicals with the intention of reducing the “solubility”, (2) Addition of chemicals in order to bleach or mineralize the humus, and (3) Filtration with the intention of removal of coloured particles and some of the “soluble” colour. The treatment processes are discussed.

scholarly journals First Derivative UV Spectra of Surface Water as a Monitor of Chlorination in Drinking Water Treatment

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 39-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Zitko
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Uv Spectra ◽  
Free Chlorine ◽  
Residual Chlorine ◽  
First Derivative ◽  
Derivative Spectra

Many countries require the presence of free chlorine at about 0.1 mg/l in their drinking water supplies. For various reasons, such as cast-iron pipes or long residence times in the distribution system, free chlorine may decrease below detection limits. In such cases it is important to know whether or not the water was chlorinated or if nonchlorinated water entered the system by accident. Changes in UV spectra of natural organic matter in lakewater were used to assess qualitatively the degree of chlorination in the treatment to produce drinking water. The changes were more obvious in the first derivative spectra. In lakewater, the derivative spectra have a maximum at about 280 nm. This maximum shifts to longer wavelengths by up to 10 nm, decreases, and eventually disappears with an increasing dose of chlorine. The water treatment system was monitored by this technique for over 1 year and changes in the UV spectra of water samples were compared with experimental samples treated with known amounts of chlorine. The changes of the UV spectra with the concentration of added chlorine are presented. On several occasions, water, which received very little or no chlorination, may have entered the drinking water system. The results show that first derivative spectra are potentially a tool to determine, in the absence of residual chlorine, whether or not surface water was chlorinated during the treatment to produce potable water.

scholarly journals Genotoxicity of source, treated and distributed water from four drinking water treatment plants supplied by surface water in Sardinia, Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 109385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella Feretti ◽  
Mattia Acito ◽  
Marco Dettori ◽  
Elisabetta Ceretti ◽  
Cristina Fatigoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Water Treatment Plants

Microcystin class of toxins: health effects and safety of drinking water supplies

1994 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Lambert ◽  
C. F. B. Holmes ◽  
S. E. Hrudey
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Tumor Promoter ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Blue Green Algae ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Human Illness ◽  
Safety Of Drinking Water

The microcystins are produced by several species of common planktonic cyanobacteria found in surface waters, but their biological function remains unknown. The microcystins have been shown to be extremely potent hepatotoxins in a variety of experimental animals and they are lethal at low doses. Microcystin-LR, one of over 40 microcystin analogues, has also been shown to be a potent tumor promoter. The toxic effects of the microcystins have been attributed to the inhibition of protein phosphatases. This inhibition causes collapse of the cytoskeleton and interferes with a general signal transduction mechanism in cells. The presence of toxic cyanobacteria in surface water has been documented in all parts of the world. The microcystins have been related to a few incidents of human illness and several incidents of animal poisoning in Canada, United States, Australia, Europe, and Africa. Therefore, exposure to the microcystins is a potentially significant health risk and toxin removal from drinking water is becoming a concern worldwide. Conventional water treatment processes (coagulation/sedimentation, chlorination) have generally proven ineffective at removing microcystin toxins from drinking water. Activated carbon, ozone, and free chlorine have been effective in removing microcystins below detectable concentrations in laboratory experiments. Considering these factors, the occurrence of microcystins in drinking water supplies deserves serious attention to insure that adverse health effects are prevented.Key words: microcystins, hepatotoxins, cyanobacteria, blue-green algae, water treatment, health risk.

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