engleski

Determination of haloacetic acid in drinking water in Croatia

The most commonly used disinfectants for the treatment of drinking waters are chlorine and its compounds, and the reasons for that are: lower costs, protection against microbial recontamination and minimum level of chlorine residual throughout the distribution system due to high oxidizing potential [1]. Because of its activity, chlorine can also react with natural organic matter (NOM) present in water and form disinfection byproducts (DBP) [2]. In 1974 Rook [3] identified and reported chloroform and other trihalomethanes in chlorinated drinking water as the first DBPs. Since then studies described approximately 600 – 700 DBPs which are formed by the common disifectants. Trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) make up more than 80% of the total number [4]. According to epidemiological studies, long‐time exposure to high levels of DBPs has been associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer among men. Several studies are associating kidney, liver, pancreas, breast, brain cancer and pregnancy outcomes such as fetal growth with exposure to DBPs [5]. US Environmental Agency has established maximum cotaminant level for total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 80 μg/L and for sum of five HAAs at 60 μg L–1 [6]. However, there is no limit for HAAs in Croatia, only for TTHM which is 100 μg L–1 [7]. The aim of this work was to measure HAA levels in tap waters in different parts of Croatia. Ammonium chloride was added to the Winkler glass bottles prior to sampling to convert free chorine residual in the sample matrix into combined chlorine. Tap was opened and the system was allowed to flush the bottles and samples were collected from the flowing system. Modified US EPA Method 552.3 was used for the determination of the HAAs. The method uses gas chromatography system coupled with an electron capture detector and a capillary column. In addition, total organic carbon (TOC) was determined in order to study its correlation with HAA.

haloacetic acid ; organic matter ; drinking water

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