Researchers have announced the finding of a new compound in chloraminated drinking water. Inorganic chloramines serve as disinfectants in drinking water to protect public health against diseases like cholera and typhoid fever.
A collaborative effort between scientists from the United States and Switzerland has resulted in the discovery of a previously unidentified compound in chloraminated drinking water. Inorganic chloramines are widely used to disinfect drinking water, helping to prevent the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever. In the U.S., it is estimated that over 113 million people consume chloraminated water.
The researchers have identified chloronitramide anion, chemically represented as Cl-N-NO2−, as a byproduct from the breakdown of inorganic chloramines. While the toxicity of this compound remains unknown, its frequency and resemblance to other harmful substances raise concerns, necessitating further research to evaluate its potential health risks. The identification of this compound has posed significant challenges and represents a major breakthrough.
Julian Fairey, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Arkansas, is the first co-author of the paper published in Science. Fairey noted that while researchers have been aware of the compound for many years, its identification has been elusive. He began his efforts to solve this puzzle a decade ago.
“It’s a very stable chemical with a low molecular weight,” Fairey stated. “It’s quite challenging to detect. The toughest part was not only identifying it but also confirming that its structure was as we proposed.”
This involved synthesizing the compound in his laboratory, a feat that had never been accomplished previously. The samples were then sent to his colleague and co-first author on the paper, Juliana Laszakovits, who is a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, for further analysis.
Unavoidably, there will be inquiries regarding the health risks associated with this newly discovered compound, which hadn’t been included in previous toxicology studies.
Fairey, who specializes in the chemistry of drinking water disinfectants, mentioned in a prior interview: “It’s widely accepted that disinfecting drinking water can produce some degree of toxicity. Over time, chronic exposure might lead to a certain number of cancer cases linked to drinking water. However, we have yet to pinpoint the chemicals responsible for this toxicity. A key aim of our research is to identify these substances and the chemical reactions that lead to their formation.”
The identification of this compound is a crucial advancement in that endeavor. Researchers and regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will evaluate whether chloronitramide anion is associated with cancer or presents other health risks in ongoing studies. At a minimum, this discovery allows for toxicity testing of this compound.
“Even if it turns out not to be toxic,” Fairey elaborated, “discovering it can enhance our understanding of how other compounds, including poisons, are produced. If we can trace the formation process of a substance, we can potentially manage it more effectively.”
Alongside Fairey and Laszakovits as co-authors on the paper are Huong Pham, Thien Do, Samuel Hodges, Kristopher McNeill, and David Wahman. Pham, Do, and Hodges are all former Ph.D. students from the University of Arkansas who played a role in this research in Fairey’s lab. In 2022, McNeill hosted Fairey at ETH Zurich as a visiting professor during his sabbatical, where they collaborated with Laszakovits on this project. Wahman has long been a collaborator with Fairey’s research group and serves as a research environmental engineer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
