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Toxicological aspects of trihalomethanes: a systematic review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 26, pages 5316–5332 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Chlorine is considered the most used chemical agent for water disinfection worldwide. However, water chlorination can lead to by-product generation which can be toxic to humans. The present study aimed to perform a systematic review on the toxicity of trihalomethanes (THMs) through bioindicators of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity. The results showed that studies on the effects of THMs on DNA are a current research concern for evaluating the toxicity of the pure compounds and real samples involving several types including water for recreational use, reused water, and drinking water. THMs deleterious effects have been assessed using several biosystems, where the Ames test along with experimental animal models were the most cited. A wide range of THM concentrations have been tested. Nevertheless, DNA damage was demonstrated, highlighting the potential human health risk. Among the studied THMs, chloroform presented a different action mechanism when compared with brominated THMs, with the former being cytotoxic while brominated THMs (bromodichloromethane, bromoform, and dibromochloromethane) were cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic. The described evidence in this research highlights the relevance of this topic as a human health issue. Nevertheless, research aimed to represent THMs current exposure conditions in a more accurate way would be needed to understand the real impact on human health.

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Funding

This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

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Affiliations

  1. Development and Environment, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), University Campus, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil

    Luciana de Castro Medeiros, Feliphe Lacerda Souza de Alencar, Julio Alejandro Navoni & Viviane Souza do Amaral

  2. Department of Natural Resources, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Julio Alejandro Navoni & André Luis Calado de Araujo

  3. Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), University Campus, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil

    Viviane Souza do Amaral

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  1. Luciana de Castro Medeiros
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  2. Feliphe Lacerda Souza de Alencar
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  5. Viviane Souza do Amaral
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Correspondence to Viviane Souza do Amaral.

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de Castro Medeiros, L., de Alencar, F.L.S., Navoni, J.A. et al. Toxicological aspects of trihalomethanes: a systematic review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 5316–5332 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3949-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3949-z

Keywords

  • Chlorination by-products
  • Trihalomethane
  • Water disinfection
  • DNA damage