Abstract
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are common disinfection by-products in chlorinated tap waters. They can cause various cancers and non-cancer health hazards. Ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation are the three exposure routes considered in the THM hazard or risk assessments. Among these, inhalation hazard is generally calculated by assuming the initial concentration as zero. This assumption fails to address the case of continuous or successive showers that can happen in shared showering facilities such as student hostels or gymnasiums. In the present study, the leftover THM concentration from the previous bath was considered to assess the chronic daily intakes (CDI) and hazard index (HI) for successive showers. For this, tap water of a university campus was analyzed to understand the extent of THM exposure at consumer points and the result obtained was used for the hazard assessment. Total THM concentrations varied from 0.51 to 68.9µg L-1. To address the variability of the model input parameters, 50,000 iterations of Monte Carlo simulation were carried out. Maximum HI values of 7.94E - 02 ± 3.63E - 02, and 6.69E - 02 ± 3.08E-02 were observed for the 1st shower for females and males, respectively. This value increased exponentially up to the 5th shower and thereafter, the value was constant. The methodology followed in the present study successfully determines the risk and hazard of THMs through successive showers.
Highlights
Drinking water is the main medium of trihalomethanes (THMs) introduction to humans
The water distribution network of the study area was served mainly by a conventional water treatment plant (WTP) which is situated within few kilometers of sampling locations
The WTP was being fed by a river and few deep wells, and the treated water was stored in various overhead tanks before distribution to most of the sampling locations
Summary
Drinking water is the main medium of trihalomethanes (THMs) introduction to humans. THMs are disinfection byproducts (DBPs), known to be probable/possible carcinogens, and to harm human reproductive systems (Cotruvo and Amato, 2019; Zeng et al, 2016). This assumption is correct only for the household shower rooms where members use separate bathrooms or there is enough time between successive showering events so that the THM concentration left by the previous user is subsided This assumption fails in the case of shared showering facilities such as student hostels and dormitories, gymnasiums, swimming pools, backpackers’ lodges, sports complexes, and small bed and breakfast establishments with common bathrooms where multiple showering events can occur continuously and from the second shower onwards the THMs in the shower air cannot be assumed to be zero. There is not much time between two successive shower events to diminish the THMs left by the previous user and this amount needs to be accounted for while calculating the inhalation CDI and subsequent risks
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Submitted Version (
Free)
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call