Work

Disinfection byproducts in US drinking water and cancer mortality

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Trihalomethanes, the main drinking water disinfection byproducts, may be carcinogenic and are regulated to amaximum total trihalomethanes (TTHM) of 80 µg/l in the US. We aimed to determine whether total and individual trihalomethanes in drinking water across the US are associated with higher cancer mortality in 6,260 adult participants to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2008 followed for mortality until 2019 (median: 14.4 years). At baseline, the geometric mean (standard error) of TTHM in drinking water was 9.61 (0.85) µg/l. During follow-up, 873 deaths occurred, including 207 from cancer. In Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for relevant covariates, drinking water TTHM (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.82), chloroform (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64), and bromodichloromethane (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.59) were associated with 30% to 45% higher cancer mortality. Therefore, drinking water trihalomethanes, especially chloroform and bromodichloromethane maybe risk factors for cancer mortality.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Health Research

DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2400701

Author: Angelico Mendy

Institution: University of Cincinnati

Language: English

Topic: Water Treatment and Disinfection

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences