Mutagenic activity in humic water and alum flocculated humic water treated with alternative disinfectants

Mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 100, TA 98 and TA 97 has been determined for humic water and alum flocculated humic water, treated with the alternative disinfectants chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, ozone/chlorine and chlorine/chlorine dioxide. The most pronounced activity was found for chlorine treated water tested on strain TA 100 without metabolic activation (S9 mix). Ozone treatment prior to chlorination did not alter the activity, while treatment with chlorine in combination with chlorine dioxide reduced the activity to a level somewhat over the background. No mutagenic response was detected in waters treated with ozone or chlorine dioxide alone. In presence of S9 mix all water extracts studied were non-mutagenic.