Multi-route human health risk assessment from trihalomethanes in drinking and non-drinking water in Abadan, Iran

Raheleh Kujlu,Farshid Ghanbari,Mostafa Mahdavianpour

doi:10.1007/s11356-020-09990-9

Raheleh Kujlu, Farshid Ghanbari + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09990-9

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Abstract

Natural organic matter reacted with chlorine used for disinfection, and finally, trihalomethanes (THMs) are formatted. The main purpose of this study was to determine four THM concentrations and human health cancer risk and non-cancer risk assessment from exposure through oral ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation for males and females in Abadan. Two sampling sites were selected, and five samples before and after treatment by two different water treatment systems (RO and ion exchange) were collected every week. Results showed that total THM concentrations before and after treatment by RO were 98.1 and 8.88 μg/L, and ion exchange ranged between 101.9 and 14.96 μg/L, respectively, that before treatment was upper than the maximum of 80 mg/L recommended by USEPA. Inhalation was the primary route of exposure by around 80–90% of cancer risk. Total cancer risk was higher than the USEPA acceptable limit of 10−6 via three exposure routes. Oral route has the higher hazard index values than dermal ways.

Highlights

Providing safe water is a significant concern in public health
Cancer risk assessment was performed in drinking water from ten water treatment plants in China; the results showed that the oral ingestion was the main route of exposure (Gan et al 2013)
This study was conducted to monitor the occurrence of THMs and their cancer risk assessment through ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation exposure routes in two stations for males and females

Summary

Introduction

Providing safe water is a significant concern in public health. To achieve this important goal and to prevent secondary pollution, disinfectants are used during the last step of water treatment. Chloramines, ozone, and ClO2 are general disinfectants. They can generate disinfection by-products (DBPs) that can take a risk to human health (Al-Otoum et al 2016). Chlorination is used frequently because of low costs, effectiveness, and simple operation (Arman et al 2016; Wang et al 2007). Chlorine secure human health risk from waterborne diseases, deactivated microorganism and immune bacteria, virus, and protozoa regrowth in the water distribution system

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