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Risk assessment of trihalomethanes from tap water in Fortaleza, Brazil

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Abstract

The cancer risks (CR) by oral ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation exposure of trihalomethanes (THM) from tap water of ten districts in Fortaleza, Brazil were estimated. The mean levels of THM compounds were obtained in Fortaleza tap water as follow: 63.9 μg L−1 for chloroform (CHCl3), 40.0 μg L−1 for bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl2), and 15.6 μg L−1 for dibromochloromethane (CHBr2Cl). Bromoform (CHBr3) was not detected. The mean CR for THMs in tap water is 3.96 × 10−4. The results indicate that Fortaleza residents have a higher CR by inhalation than dermal absorption and oral ingestion. The CR for CHCl3 contributes with 68% as compared with the total CR, followed by CHBrCl2 (21%), and CHBr2Cl (11%). The hazard index (HI) is about ten times lower than unity, not indicating non-cancer effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química e Física Molecular, Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400 Cx. Postal 780, 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Rommel B. Viana

  2. Departamento de Química Analítica e Físico Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Bloco 940, Campus do Pici, 60451-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil

    Rivelino M. Cavalcante, Fuad M. G. Braga & Ronaldo F. Nascimento

  3. Departamento de Engenharia Hidráulica e Saneamento, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco 713, Campus do Pici, 60451-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil

    Fuad M. G. Braga & José C. de Araujo

  4. Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, rua Sapucai 383, Floresta, 30150-904, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Anderson B. Viana

  5. Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente 225, Gávea, 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    André S. Pimentel

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  1. Rommel B. Viana
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  2. Rivelino M. Cavalcante
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  3. Fuad M. G. Braga
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  6. Ronaldo F. Nascimento
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  7. André S. Pimentel
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Correspondence to Rommel B. Viana.

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Viana, R.B., Cavalcante, R.M., Braga, F.M.G. et al. Risk assessment of trihalomethanes from tap water in Fortaleza, Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 151, 317–325 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0273-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0273-y

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