AWWA WQTC65962

The formation of drinking water disinfection byproducts (DBPs) is a major issue because of their implications for human health. Over 500 chemicals attributed to DBPs have been identified in laboratory-scale and full-scale studies over the past three decades. However, depending on the disinfection method used and the quality of source water, the type of chemical compounds formed may vary. Next to trihalomethanes, halogenated acetic acids represent the second largest class by concentration, but to date only the chlorine and bromine-containing species have been explored. Compounds containing iodine and bromine are primarily formed due to the reaction of chlorine or chloramines with natural organic matter in the source water when iodide and/or bromide are present. Iodoorgano compounds have recently been found to possess the highest potential for adverse health effects in terms of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity among the halogenated acetic acids. The generation and detection of the methyl esters of iodoacetic acid and the disubstituted species (diiodoacetic acid, bromoiodoacetic acid and chloroiodoacetic acid) by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) results in a reliable and sensitive method for the quantification of those acids among their bromine and chlorine-containing counterparts (the nine other haloacetic acids, HAA9). Includes 4 references, table, figures.