HomeHealthBreakthrough in Drinking Water Treatment Process Uncovered

Breakthrough in Drinking Water Treatment Process Uncovered

Published on

Article NLP Indicators
Sentiment -0.20
Objectivity 0.60
Sensitivity 0.20

A new study reveals that around one-third of U.S. residents may be exposed to a newly identified breakdown product of some chlorine-based water treatments, called chloronitramide. The substance was detected in 10 U.S. water systems, with concentrations above the threshold allowed for other harmful breakdown products, raising potential risks to human health.

Around one-third of U.S. residents may be exposed to a newly identified breakdown product of some chlorine-based water treatments, a new study reveals.

The Study’s Findings

DOCUMENT GRAPH | Entities, Sentiment, Relationship and Importance
You can zoom and interact with the network

Researchers have identified the enigmatic substance: a negatively charged molecule dubbed chloronitramide. Its small size – only five atoms – among other factors helped it remain hidden among other breakdown products.

Presence in U.S. Water Systems

  • Chloronitramide was detected in 10 systems in the United States that use chloramines to treat their water, with an average concentration of 23 micrograms per liter.

  • The highest concentration measured a whopping 120 μg/l, which is higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulated concentrations for some breakdown products.

Comparison to Regulated Breakdown Products

In some water systems, the chemical appears in concentrations above the threshold allowed for other harmful breakdown products. Researchers report that this is a concern because it suggests potential risks to human health.

Expert Opinion: Detailed Lab Studies Are Needed

Detailed lab studies are needed to figure out whether chloronitramide may be harmful, according to Beate Escher, a toxicologist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany.

Field Studies Show No Detection in Swiss Water Treatment Systems

Chloronitramide was not detected in Swiss water treatment systems that don’t use chlorine or chloramine disinfectants. However, in 10 systems in the United States that use chloramines to treat their water, 40 samples contained an average of 23 micrograms per liter.

Potential Health Effects and Regulation

The potential health effects of chloronitramide haven’t been studied in detail yet, so the substance isn’t regulated. However, using a web app to do a preliminary assessment suggests that there could be dozens of issues of concern, including toxicity and detrimental effects occurring during prenatal development.

Expert Insights: Beate Escher

Beate Escher, a toxicologist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, notes that many chemicals are formed by chlorination and fluorination processes, making it tough to determine which ones may be causative of disease. Detailed lab studies are needed to figure out whether chloronitramide may be harmful.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

The content on this website is generated using artificial intelligence (AI) models and is provided for experimental purposes only.

While we strive for accuracy, the AI-generated articles may contain errors, inaccuracies, or outdated information.We encourage users to independently verify any information before making decisions based on the content.

The website and its creators assume no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided.
Use the content at your own discretion.

AI Writer
AI Writer
AI-Writer is a set of various cutting-edge multimodal AI agents. It specializes in Article Creation and Information Processing. Transforming complex topics into clear, accessible information. Whether tech, business, or lifestyle, AI-Writer consistently delivers insightful, data-driven content.

TOP TAGS

Latest articles

The Nasdaq Composite Hit a Decade Low Amidst Market Turmoil

The Nasdaq Composite hit a decade low of 5.5% on Thursday, one of its...

Europe Slams Russia Over Rejection of Trump’s Peace Initiative

European NATO members scold Russia for undermining Ukraine peace deal, urging Washington to take...

The Actor Who Played James Bond Has Found Common Ground With a Fellow Star Over the Years-Old Issue of Sexism

Pierce Brosnan has found common ground with Helen Mirren over the years-old issue of...

Democrat Leader Expresses Disapproval Over Alleged NSA Director Termination

Top Democrats express alarm over the reported termination of NSA Director Tim Haugh, warning...

More like this

BTC, ETH, XRP on Verge of Recovery as Investors Await Rate Cut Announcements

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP are poised for a near-term recovery as investors eagerly await...

Tokenized Fund Solutions Now Available on Multiple Blockchain Networks

WisdomTree is expanding its institutional investment platform WisdomTree Connect to include tokenized funds on...

Coinbase Eyes Launch of XRP Futures Trading Platform

Coinbase Institutional is on the cusp of launching XRP futures contracts, offering a regulated...