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Multi-route risk assessment from trihalomethanes in drinking water supplies

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Abstract

The main objectives of this study were to investigate the concentration and lifetime cancer risk and hazard index of trihalomethanes (THMs) through multiple routes like oral ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation exposure in the water samples collected at water treatment plant endpoints. Bromoform has been found in highest concentration followed by chloroform. A lesser concentration of dibromochloromethane has been found than dichlorobromomethane in most of the studied water, which is an unusual scenario, in spite of the high concentration of bromide in the water which can be attributed to the formation, speciation, and distribution of THMs in the breakpoint chlorination curve. Among the three pathways studied, inhalation contributed 80–90% of the total risk followed by oral exposure and dermal contact. Chloroform was found to be the major THM which is having cancer risk in its gaseous form whereas bromoform contributed highest cancer risk through oral ingestion. The average hazard index of total THMs through oral route was higher than unity, indicating high noncarcinogenic risk. The discrepancy between the three exposure pathways may be attributed to different concentration and speciation of THMs present in the waters. The sensitivity analysis by tornado diagram confirmed the highest positive impact of chloroform to the total cancer risk and, indirectly, confirmed inhalation as the major pathway of exposure. This study suggests the modification of the regulatory issues related to THMs based on the health risk associated with each THM and exposure pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, India

    Mrittika Basu, Sunil Kumar Gupta & Gurdeep Singh

  2. West Bengal Pollution Control Board, 10A, Block LA, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata, 700 098, India

    Ujjal Mukhopadhyay

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  1. Mrittika Basu
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  2. Sunil Kumar Gupta
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  3. Gurdeep Singh
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  4. Ujjal Mukhopadhyay
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Correspondence to Mrittika Basu.

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Basu, M., Gupta, S.K., Singh, G. et al. Multi-route risk assessment from trihalomethanes in drinking water supplies. Environ Monit Assess 178, 121–134 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1677-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1677-z

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