Naturally occurring emerging contaminants: Where to hide?

Abstract

Water disinfection by-products (DBPs) are among insitu-generated emerging contaminants (ECs) during water disinfection. Although water disinfectants control acute risks through destruction of water-borne pathogens, the produced DBPs are associated to genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, bladder cancer, early-term miscarriage, and birth defects. Only 30% of trihalomethanes (THMs), 10% of halogenic acetic acids (HAAs) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) are the major classes of DBPs gained significant public attention. There is still missing information particularly in their formation, distribution, and public awareness. In the current study it was revealed that persistence, types, and metabolic fragments of DBPs are not informed leaving unsolved puzzle. These findings still indicate a significant knowledge gap on the insight and alternative solutions on where to hide against natural-bases ECs.

Keywords

• Chlorine disinfection
• Trihalomethanes (THMs)
• Haloacetic acids (HAAs)
• Chloramines
• Haloacetonitriles (HANs)
• Halonitromethanes (HNMs)