Full Description

Drinking water disinfection processes, especially those utilizing chlorine, canincrease the genotoxic activity of water through the production of disinfection byproducts(DBPs). Genotoxicity is a measure of the amount of damage a substance cancause to a DNA molecule and is a parameter of interest due to its strong correlation tocarcinogenicity. Commonly formed DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs) andhaloaceticacids (HAAs) can be quantified by analytical techniques, but many otherunidentified byproducts can also be formed. Biological assays may be used to measurethe total genotoxic effect of these byproducts, including those which cannot beidentified.The goal of the current study is to compare the genotoxicity of waters treated withchemical disinfectants, UV (low and medium pressure both alone and with Hsub2/subOsub2/sub), andUV followed by chemical disinfectants including chlorine, chloramines and chlorinedioxide. A range of source waters, exhibiting different watershed characteristics, arebeing examined. Genotoxicity of the disinfected samples as monitored using the Amestest, the Microtox test and the SOS-Chromotest provide complimentary data sets. DBPconcentrations (THMs and HAA9) are also compared to these results. This informationallows for an assessment of the potential for unidentified genotoxic compounds to formduring specific disinfection strategies as well as providing insight into how they can beminimized. Results to date indicate a weak genotoxic potential can be quantified forseveral of the disinfection scenarios. Includes 12 references, table, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 11/01/2006 Number of Pages: 8 File Size: 1 file , 340 KB