STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RESIDUAL CHLORINE ON SERUM IRON AND RELATED PARAMETERS

The major purpose of the present investigation was to study the effects of different concentrations of residual chlorine on serum iron related parameters in rats. Feeding male rats with water containing 80 ppm of residual chlorine daily for 5 days reduced serum levels of ceruloplasmin, copper, iron and hemoglobin by approximately 27%,23%,6% and 4%, respectively. Higher reductions in serum ceruloplasmin (35%), copper (50%), Fe (17%) and hemoglobin (14%) were observed when rats were given water containing 160 ppm of residual chlorine daily for 5 days. The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) level was elevated by 9 and/or 13 percent respectively. Daily feeding of rats for 1 0 days with water containing 160 ppm residual chlorine caused significant reductions in serum levels of ceruloplasmin (50%), copper (54%) iron (17%) and hemoglobin (17%). Serum TIBC was elevated by 25%. Long term effects of residual chlorine on the above parameters were also investigated. It can therefore be .concluded that residual chlorine in drinking water may interfere with iron metabolism. The relationship between the occurrence of anemia and residual chlorine toxicity has been discussed.