Related Experiment Videos
Safe drinking water: a public health challenge
1Bureau of Operations, Planning and Policy, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada, Tunney's Pasture, AL: 0602E2, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0L2, Canada. Don_T_Wigle@hc-sc.gc.ca
Chronic Diseases in Canada
|November 20, 1998
Summary
Chlorination disinfection by-products (CBPs) in drinking water are linked to increased cancer risk, particularly bladder cancer. Reducing CBP levels is a public health priority to prevent cancer cases.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Drinking water disinfection, a public health success, began in the late 1800s/early 1900s using filtration and chlorination.
- Chlorination disinfection by-products (CBPs) were identified in 1974.
- CBPs include chloroform and other chemicals formed during water chlorination.
Observation:
- Chloroform and other CBPs are known carcinogens in animal studies.
- Epidemiologic evidence suggests a causal link between CBPs and human cancers, especially bladder cancer.
- Estimates suggest 2-17% of bladder cancers may be attributable to CBP exposure in drinking water.
Findings:
- An expert group concluded CBPs pose a possible to probable cancer risk, particularly for bladder cancer.
- The risk associated with CBPs is considered a moderately important public health problem.
- Evidence suggests lowering CBP levels could prevent a significant number of bladder cancers.
Implications:
- There is an urgent need to address the risks posed by CBPs in drinking water.
- Widespread and prolonged exposure to CBPs may establish them as significant environmental carcinogens.
- Further research is needed to confirm the link and guide public health actions.