A Potentially Harmful Byproduct in Drinking Water
A new chemical byproduct found in drinking water could be present in about a third of U.S. homes, according to a recent study. The chemical forms during water treatment, and scientists are concerned it might be toxic, although they do not know for sure yet.
What Is Chloronitramide Anion?
The substance, called “chloronitramide anion,” is created when water is treated with chloramine, a mix of chlorine and ammonia used to kill germs. Scientists are unsure if it is dangerous, but they are studying it because it resembles other harmful chemicals.
The chemical has actually been around for about 40 years, but researchers could only now identify it due to improved analysis techniques. It may take years to determine if chloronitramide anion is harmful, but the findings were published to encourage further research.
Research Findings
“It is similar to other toxic molecules,” said David Wahman, a researcher at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). His team found the chemical in 40 samples from 10 drinking water systems across seven states. Chloronitramide anion is likely present in all water treated with chloramine, which is used to treat the water supply of about 113 million people in the U.S.
Safety Concerns About Chloramine
Many water systems use chloramine instead of chlorine because it produces fewer harmful byproducts. Chlorine byproducts have been linked to bladder cancer. However, the discovery of chloronitramide anion raises new questions about whether chloramine is truly as safe as previously believed.
Julian Fairey, lead author of the study, said researchers were only able to identify the chemical after producing it in high amounts for lab tests. Though its toxicity is still unknown, scientists can now begin studying its effects.
“We don’t know if it is toxic yet, but this study allows us to start figuring that out,” Fairey said.
Possible Health Risks
Some studies have linked treated water to higher cancer rates, but there is no evidence yet that this chemical is responsible. It could take many years to determine if it is harmful, and any regulations would take even longer to implement.
The EPA currently regulates a few disinfection byproducts, mostly from chlorine. Because of the risks from chlorine byproducts, many water systems switched to chloramine, but this study raises questions about chloramine’s safety.
The Trade-Off of Water Treatment
All water treatment processes have risks, said Alan Roberson. Disinfection has greatly reduced waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid, but some byproducts may be linked to increased risks of cancer and miscarriage.
“We use chloramine to kill bacteria and viruses — it’s a trade-off between different risks,” Roberson explained.
What Can Consumers Do?
Some water utilities share online whether they use chlorine or chloramine. Wahman said that activated carbon filters, like those found in home water filtration systems, might remove some byproducts, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.