Abstract
High concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) in public water supplies potentially pose a health hazard, but exposure assessment remains a complex task. To interpret research findings and monitoring data for THMs, it is important to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in both total THM and the individual constituent compounds (including brominated species). We therefore aimed to determine the concentrations, and spatial and temporal variability of concentrations, of THMs public water supplies in Perth, Western Australia, which is known historically to have high brominated THM concentrations. We analysed water samples from 21 water distribution zones around Perth (including Busselton and Bunbury) across different seasons over a period of two years. A total of 250 samples provided a median total THM of 72 µg/L (range of 0–157 µg/L), which falls well within Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines. The concentration of all species, including brominated forms, also fell the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Total THM concentrations were typically higher in spring and summer. A high degree of spatial variability was detected and appears to relate to the source water. Both the temporal and spatial variability in THM concentrations have implications for epidemiological studies, and monitoring.
Highlights
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are a group of disinfection by-products produced when halogen-based compounds react with anthropogenic contaminants or natural organic matter [1]
The temporal variability was first examined between the two years, with no significant differences detected in the concentrations of total THM (TTHM), BrTHMs, or the four individual THM species
Our findings suggest a relationship between latitude and THM concentrations that was largely evident across the species of THMs, as well as total THMs and BrTHMs
Summary
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are a group of disinfection by-products produced when halogen-based compounds react with anthropogenic contaminants or natural organic matter [1]. The current evidence is not sufficiently strong to definitively determine the safety of THMs, with inconsistencies in the current evidence base [2,3,4,5,6]. These reported inconsistencies in previous analyses may relate to different cut-points for high versus low THM exposure, different dominant THM species, differences in the exposure assessment (e.g., using THM concentrations for the residential water distribution zones (WDZs) or individual exposure estimates), and differences in the confounders accounted for in the risk estimates. Public Health 2020, 17, 7280; doi:10.3390/ijerph17197280 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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