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Research Issues Underlying the Four-Lab Study: Integrated Disinfection Byproducts Mixtures Research
Citation:
SIMMONS, J. E., S. D. RICHARDSON, L. K. Teuscher, R. J. MILTNER, T. F. SPETH, K. M. SCHENCK, E. S. HUNTER, AND G. E. RICE. Research Issues Underlying the Four-Lab Study: Integrated Disinfection Byproducts Mixtures Research. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH - PART A: CURRENT ISSUES. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 71(17):1125-1132, (2008).
Impact/Purpose:
The research was designed to evaluate real-world complex mixtures of DBPs formed by chemical disinfection of bromide-containing water by developing health effects and chemical identity information for surface water disinfected either by chlorination or by ozonation followed by postchlorination. A phased series of experiments was planned leading up to and informing a multi-generational rodent reproductive/ developmental bioassay, with Phases I and II providing needed information for the conduct of Phase III, the reproductive/developmental multi-generational rodent bioassay. The present studies present the results of Phases I and II.
Description:
Chemical disinfection of drinking water is a major public health triumph of the 20th century, resulting in significant decreases in morbidity and mortality from waterborne diseases. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are chemicals formed by the reaction of oxidizing disinfectants with inorganic and organic materials in the source water. To address potential health concerns that cannot be answered directly by toxicological research on individual DBPs or defined DBP mixtures, scientists residing within the various organizations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development (the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, the National Risk Management Research Laboratory, the National Exposure Research Laboratory, and the National Center for Environmental Assessment) engaged in joint investigation of environmentally realistic complex mixtures of DBPs. Research on complex mixtures of DBPs is motivated by three factors: a) DBP exposure is ubiquitous to all segments of the population; b) some positive epidemiologic studies are suggestive of potential developmental, reproductive, or carcinogenic health effects in humans exposed to DBPs; and c) significant amounts of the material that make up the total organic halide and total organic carbon portions of the DBPs have not been identified. The goal of the Integrated Disinfection Byproducts Mixtures Research Project (the 4Lab Study) is provision of sound, defensible, experimental data on environmentally relevant mixtures of DBPs and an improved estimation of the potential health risks associated with exposure to the mixtures of DBPs formed during disinfection of drinking water. A phased research plan was developed and implemented. The present series of papers provides the results from the first series of experiments.
