Nitrosamines and water

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Water Technology
• Public Health

Background:

• Nitrosamines, particularly N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), are increasingly detected in water.
• They are identified as disinfection by-products (DBPs) in chloraminated waters.
• Nitrosamines pose a higher health risk compared to traditional chlorinated DBPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on nitrosamines in water technology.
• To summarize occurrence, formation mechanisms, precursors, and removal strategies.
• To highlight knowledge gaps in nitrosamine formation and control.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of nitrosamine occurrence and formation in drinking and wastewater.
• Analysis of established and potential nitrosamine formation pathways.
• Overview of current and emerging nitrosamine removal technologies.

Main Results:

• NDMA is the most frequently detected nitrosamine.
• The established NDMA formation mechanism during chloramination requires further investigation into dimethylamine (DMA) precursors.
• Other oxidants used in water treatment may also form NDMA through unknown mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Understanding nitrosamine precursors is critical for controlling their formation.
• Current research on nitrosamine removal methods is in early stages.
• Photolytic methods show potential for technological application in nitrosamine removal.