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Occurrence and Exposure to Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Recognition of public health consequences of chemical contamination of drinking water is essential for people and concerned authorities. The potential human health effects linked with exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) are of specific concern because of their possible carcinogenic nature. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis featuring peer-reviewed articles to establish levels of THMs in drinking waters and identifying major pathways of THMs risk exposure to human health. Altogether we identified 78 research work matching our search conditions. THMs levels reported over the past few years have raised alarm and put serious questions for policy makers. Majority of risk assessment studies evaluate cancer and non-cancer risks for a range of sub-populations. Studies based on toxicological data indicated oral ingestion as the major pathway of cancer risk due to THMs exposure. In certain circumstances, risk assessment data can cause unnecessary fear among the general public which is understandable; however, it is important to emphasize here that the effects occur due to long-term exposure to THMs. This review work will serve as a database to provide information about the levels of THMs and highlights the risk exposure in relevance of this topic as a human health issue. This research aimed to illustrate THMs current exposure conditions in a more correct way which would be required to recognize the actual effects on human health.

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Abbreviations

CDI:

Chronic daily intake

CSF:

Cancer slope factor

DBPs:

Disinfection by-products

DCBM, BDCM:

Bromodichloromethane

DBCM:

Dibromochloromethane

DOC:

Dissolved organic carbon

DOM:

Dissolved organic matter

DWTP:

Drinking water treatment plants

EU:

European Union

FA:

Fulvic acid

HQ:

Hazard quotient

HA:

Humic acid

NCI:

National Cancer Institute

NOM:

Natural organic matter

POC:

Particulate organic carbon

SSA:

Skin surface area

SUVA:

Specific ultra violet absorbance

TOC:

Total organic carbon

TTHMs:

Total trihalomethanes

THMs:

Trihalomethanes

UESPA:

United States Environmental Protection Agency

UV254 :

Ultra-violet absorbance at 254 nm

WHO:

World Health Organization

WTPs:

Water treatment plants

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India for providing all the necessary facilities required for this work.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Minashree Kumari

  2. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    S. K. Gupta

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MK: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, and Writing—original draft, review and editing, SKG: Supervision and Visualization.

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Kumari, M., Gupta, S.K. Occurrence and Exposure to Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Expo Health 14, 915–939 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00467-3

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