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Drinking-Water Disinfectant Produces Toxic Compound
(NY, Reuters Health, 9/21/04)
Michael J. Plewa of the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, and team, compared the byproducts of
chlorine, which is used to disinfect drinking water, with an
iodoacid, one of the byproducts of a chlorine alternative used
in some water supplies. The researchers found that the
byproduct of the alternative, was much more toxic to hamster
cells. While this research is very preliminary and iodoacids
have so far been found in only one water supply--that of
Corpus Christi, Texas--this study underscores the lack of
scientific knowledge about the potential health risks of
disinfection products and the need to identify, analyze and
rank the toxicity of chemical byproducts as a basis for
setting up public drinking-water policy that will protect the
health of US citizens.
(Environmental Science & Technology,
September 15, 2004) |
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