Research Article| December 31 2014 Evidence of regional differences in chlorine perception by consumers: sensitivity differences or habituation? P. Piriou; P. Piriou 1Suez Environnement, 38 rue du Président Wilson, Le Pecq 78230, France E-mail: philippe.piriou@suez-env.com Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar R. Devesa; R. Devesa 2Aguas de Barcelona, C/General Batet, 1–7, Barcelona 08028, Spain Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar S. Puget; S. Puget 3Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, INRA UMR1324, CNRS UMR6265, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar T. Thomas-Danguin; T. Thomas-Danguin 3Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, INRA UMR1324, CNRS UMR6265, Université de Bourgogne, F-21000 Dijon, France Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar F. Zraick F. Zraick 1Suez Environnement, 38 rue du Président Wilson, Le Pecq 78230, France Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2015) 64 (7): 783–792. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2014.097 Article history Received: July 23 2014 Accepted: November 03 2014 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation P. Piriou, R. Devesa, S. Puget, T. Thomas-Danguin, F. Zraick; Evidence of regional differences in chlorine perception by consumers: sensitivity differences or habituation?. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 11 November 2015; 64 (7): 783–792. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2014.097 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Chlorinous flavors are a leading cause of customers' dissatisfaction with drinking water. Potential differences in chlorine perception were investigated by conducting sensory testing experiments in France and Spain to assess consumers' sensory sensitivity (chlorine flavor detection threshold and supra-threshold intensity) as well as their liking of and acceptability for chlorinated solutions. In both countries, two groups of panelists were constituted based on their water drinking habits (tap vs. bottled water). Chlorine flavor detection threshold was found to vary depending on countries (0.17 mg/L Cl2 in France and 0.56 mg/L Cl2 in Spain). Taking into account that mean flavor detection thresholds were found in agreement with chlorine residuals delivered at tap, it is likely that habituation may explain sensitivity differences between countries. This hypothesis is supported by results showing no significant sensitivity difference at detection threshold levels, but significant differences between tap water and bottled water consumers at supra-threshold levels (flavor intensity). In addition, consumers' liking and acceptability for chlorinated water was found to be in agreement with sensitivity: the higher the sensitivity the lower the acceptability for chlorinated waters. Thus, French consumers or bottled water drinkers showed a lower appreciation of chlorinated water solutions and were especially less inclined to accept chlorinated water as drinking water delivered at tap. chlorine, consumer perception, drinking water © IWA Publishing 2015 You do not currently have access to this content.