Formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine by chloramination of anthropogenic nitrogenous compounds with dimethylamine monitored by Japanese water authorities.

Abstract

Pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) compounds accidentally released to source waters can be important precursors of the carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) during drinking water treatment. The NDMA formation potentials (NDMAFPs) of 31 anthropogenic nitrogenous compounds with dimethylamine (DMA) moiety on the Japanese PRTR and the registered precursors listed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan are investigated as well as influencing factors (i.e., NH2Cl dose and water matrices) on the NDMAFPs of precursors. Tertiary amines with aryl groups β-positioned to the nitrogen atom of the DMA moiety formed high concentrations of NDMA (35-51%) during chloramination. Moreover, dimethylcarbamoyl chloride (DMCCl) was considered a new NDMA precursor with NDMAFP of 1.1%, higher than DMA, a traditional NDMA precursor. Excessive NH2Cl dose enhanced the NDMA formation, and the NDMAFP of DMCCl significantly decreased in river water; the effect of the matrix in river water varied and was compound-specific. Among the selected nitrogenous compounds, NDMAFPs of 15 excessed the current guideline concentration for NDMA in Japan (100 ng/L) assuming an accidental release of 0.144 mg C/L (the concentration in previous Japanese water quality accident in May 2012), and 2-(dimethylaminomethyl) thiophene (DMAMT) showed the highest NDMAFP at 58 μg/L.