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Water chlorination: essential process or cancer hazard?
R J Bull1, L S Birnbaum, K P Cantor
1Health Risk Assessment Department, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
Summary
Chlorine disinfection of drinking water effectively prevents disease but forms disinfection by-products (DBPs). Evaluating DBP risks against microbial threats is crucial for public health and safe water delivery.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Public Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Chlorination has been a cornerstone of waterborne infectious disease control for decades.
- Chlorination of natural organic matter in water produces disinfection by-products (DBPs), initially focusing on trihalomethanes (THMs).
- Alternative disinfection methods exist but have less understood risks and variable efficacy.
Keywords:
Non-programmatic