In the United States, but also in certain neighboring countries, drinking water is disinfected with chlorine. American and Swiss researchers have identified for the first time one of the compounds that forms in water. It is therefore now possible to study the toxic risk of this disinfection method.
Bruno Knellwolf / ch media
To protect people from diseases such as cholera and typhus, inorganic chloramines are often used to disinfect drinking water. It is estimated that in the United States alone, 113 million people drink chloraminated water. If chloramination is not used in Switzerland, it is in countries such as Italy, France and Canada.
A team of American and Swiss researchers has just described a previously unknown compound in chloraminated drinking water. The team identified the chloronitramide anion (Cl-N-NO2–) as the end product of the decomposition of inorganic chloramine.
“We have known since the early 1980s that this compound forms in chloraminated drinking water,” explains Kristopher McNeill, professor of environmental chemistry at ETH Zurich. Subsequent studies in the 1990s attempted to determine its structure, but failed due to limitations in analytical instruments and an incomplete understanding of chloramine breakdown. This is why identification itself constitutes a breakthrough.
No chloronitramide anion in Swiss waters
“Chloraminated drinking water is widespread in North America. In Switzerland, chloramination is not really used and there are no chloronitramide anions in Swiss waters.”
Juliana Laszakovits, EPF Zurich
Swiss tap water could therefore be used as a control in the study.
The health risks of this newly discovered compound have not yet been studied. It is therefore unclear whether and to what extent the chloronitramide anion is toxic. However, it is common knowledge that the disinfection of drinking water with chlorine generates a certain toxicity:
“This is chronic toxicity. A number of people can develop cancer from drinking chloraminated water over several decades. But we have not yet discovered which chemicals cause this toxicity.”
Julian Fairey, professor at the University of Arkansas
The diffusion and similarity of the chloronitramide anion with other toxic compounds are therefore a source of concern for researchers. More research is needed, they say. The fact that we now know the identity of the compound is nevertheless an important step in this process. Scientists and supervisory authorities will now examine whether the chloronitramide anion is linked to cancer diseases or whether it poses other health risks.
The news in Switzerland is here
The news in Switzerland is here
Show all articles
Translated and adapted from German by Léa Krejci
Children are great
1 / 14
Children are great
source: imgur
This baby hippopotamus became a star, but there’s a problem
Video: watson
This might also interest you:
“Great satisfaction” on the left, which won its two referendums on the rent bills supported by the right. The Vaudois socialist Jessica Jaccoud announces future fights. Geneva PLR Cyril Aellen believes in the virtues of the free market.
For the left, it is a double victory acquired in suspense and the result is not as ric-rac as one might think early Sunday afternoon. It delights the Vaud national socialist councilor Jessica Jaccoud.
Health
