BACKGROUND: Since THMs were first discovered in drinking water in the early 1970s, DBP issues have become a major regulatory driving force in the United States. To date, more than 600 DBPs have been identified in drinking waters; however, only 11 DBPs (4 trihalomethanes [THMs], 5 haloacetic acids [HAAs], bromate and chlorite) are currently regulated. Available toxicological data indicates that ...

The occurrences of trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and heterotrophic bacteria were monitored in five small water systems over a nine-month period to investigate the association between HAA degradation and heterotrophic bacteria populations. The sampling sites were chosen to cover the entire distribution network for each system. An inverse association between heterotrophic bacter...

Trihalomethane (THM) concentrations in blood and tap water were measured for 50 women living in two locations with different bromide concentrations and disinfectant types. Blood samples were taken from each woman early in the morning prior to any major water-use activity and again immediately after showering. Each residence was sampled for THMs in tap water prior to the woman's shower. Cobb Cou...

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States; it is the third most common site of cancer in men after prostate and lung cancer, and the second most common site of cancer in women after breast cancer (1). Furthermore, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing in industrial countries (2). Because familial forms of colon cancer are thought to account fo...

In the framework of a cohort study of pregnant women conducted in Brittany (France), we assessed the exposure to trihalomethanes (THM) during pregnancy in a subset by evaluating (1) potential sources of variability in household THM levels; (2) the between- and within-subject variability in THM levels; (3) THM levels in swimming pools; and (4) the role of water-related habits on total THM uptake...

We present the results of an in-depth study in a small Southern Illinois town looking at the public’s preferences with respect to reducing trihalomethanes (THMs) in their public drinking water system. THMs are an interesting environmental risk to study. First they are a low-level risk created as a byproduct (via chlorination) of reducing the much larger risk of bacterial contamination. Second, ...

Co-treatment of landfill leachate and sewage in a traditional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a very common leachate management method in the United States. However, biologically recalcitrant and humic-like leachate organic matters (the major fraction of mature leachate organics) cannot be truly removed by the aerobic biodegradation in WWTPs. Prior to effluent discharge from WWTPs, chlorin...