IIT (ISM) Dhanbad study reveals usage of chlorine in water may have carcinogenic effects

The study further threw light on the fact that not only carcinogenic effects but the prolonged exposure to trihalomethanes may have other non-carcinogenic effects like low birth weight in babies, premature birth and miscarriages.

A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (ISM) Dhanbad has revealed that using chlorine for the treatment of water may have carcinogenic effects. The researchers claimed that the Chlorination of water leads to the formation of Trihalomethanes, the prolonged exposure of which may have a carcinogenic effect on human beings.

The study further threw light on the fact that not only carcinogenic effects but the prolonged exposure to trihalomethanes may have other non-carcinogenic effects like a low birth weight in babies, premature birth and miscarriages.

As per the findings of a Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) sponsored study conducted by a two-member team of the Department of Environmental Science & Engineering led by Professor SK Gupta, who was assisted by Research Scholar Minashree Kumari during which meta-analysis of altogether 78 research work of different parts of the world was carried out.

According to the professor, "though there are different pathways of introduction of trihalomethanes in the human system including, ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation but ingestion through drinking water is the major pathway of introduction."

"As a part of the study they have also checked the samples of five drinking water treatment plants including three of Jharkhand and two of neighboring Bengal," he said.

“The outcome of the research will help the policymakers to take proper control measures to restrict the concentration of trihalomethanes in drinking water systems,” said professor Gupta." The problem lies more in developing countries as they do not adopt the proper disinfection practices which are in accordance with guidelines of World Health Organization and other relevant agencies," he added.

“The use of alternate disinfectants like mono chloramine instead of chlorine may help to adequately control the trihalomethanes concentration in water but the best way to prevent trihalomethanes concentration is the use of the hybrid system of adsorption cum coagulation in water treatment plants since the trihalomethanes” explained the professor.

“Through the use of alternate disinfectants like mono chloramine may reduce the concentration or trihalomethanes by 30 per cent but it may lead to the development of nitrosamines which itself has carcinogenic properties but research on the usage of alternative disinfectant which may obliterate the effect of trihalomethanes is under progress” further added Professor Gupta.

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