Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: Development of a New, Simple, Innovative Procedure for the Analysis of Bromate and Other Oxy-Halides at Sub-ppb Levels in Drinking Water
EPA Grant Number: R825952Title: Development of a New, Simple, Innovative Procedure for the Analysis of Bromate and Other Oxy-Halides at Sub-ppb Levels in Drinking Water
Investigators: Weinberg, Howard S. , Singer, Philip C.
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 1997 through August 31, 1999 (Extended to December 31, 2000)
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2000
Project Amount: $198,460
RFA: Drinking Water (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Drinking Water
Objective:
This project is evaluating a relatively simple methodology to provide the tools for assessing exposure to bromate in drinking water at the 10-6 cancer risk level of 0.05 µg/L that has hitherto been impeded by the lack of sensitivity of existing methodologies. This new analytical methodology will provide the regulatory and water monitoring communities with the ability, using existing analytical equipment with simple add-on accessories, to fulfill the goals of the Information Collection Rule and criteria for future drinking water regulations, by achieving the required sensitivity very easily in oxyhalide analysis.
Progress Summary:
A post column reaction converts bromate eluting from an ion chromatographic column into the highly sensitive chromophore, the tribromide ion, which can be detected at levels equivalent to 0.05 µg/L in drinking water. This method was evolved with the express purpose of providing a tool for meeting the objective of evaluating bromate occurrence at the 10-6 cancer risk level resulting primarily from the use of ozone in drinking water treatment. Coincidentally, the sensitivity of this method provided proof of the presence of bromate resulting from the use of hypochlorite as the agent of disinfection. Depending on the dosage of, and number of points of hypochlorite addition during treatment, the levels of bromate resulting from its usage are indicated in the range 0.1-3 µg/L Among 20 plants surveyed using this technique, the average level of bromate contributed by the use of hypochlorite was 0.94 µg/L. A mass balance between the levels of bromate in the hypochlorite feedstocks and finished water proved beyond doubt the source of the added contaminant. The results do suggest that the level of contamination of bromate in hypochlorite varies across the country with those plants sampled in Region 5 exhibiting the highest levels of contamination. With discussions towards future regulation of bromate in drinking water required to balance risk with the cost of alternative treatment, this finding is seriously impeding attempts to regulate bromate closer to 0.05 µg/L from its current regulated level of 10 µg/L in the United States.
Future Activities:
This project has been completed and a final report currently is being written.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 4 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Delcomyn CA, Weinberg HS, Singer PC. Use of ion chromatography with post-column reaction for the measurement of tribromide to evaluate bromate levels in drinking water. Journal of Chromatography A 2001;920(1-2):213-219. |
R825952 (2000) R825952 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
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Weinberg HS, Yamada H, Joyce RJ. New, sensitive and selective method for determining sub-μg/l levels of bromate in drinking water. Journal of Chromatography A 1998;804(1-2):137-142. |
R825952 (1998) R825952 (1999) R825952 (2000) R825952 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
drinking water, exposure, bromate, oxyhalides, risk, analytical methods., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Environmental Chemistry, Drinking Water, Environmental Engineering, monitoring, public water systems, oxy-halides, animal model, disinfection byproducts (DPBs), treatment, bromate formation, brominated DPBs, carcinogenicity, chlorine-based disinfection, anion chromatographic resolution, tribromide ion, DBP risk management, water quality, drinking water contaminants, regulationsRelevant Websites:
http://www.unc.edu/~weinberg/hswrsrchFrame.html#Development
http://www.unc.edu/~weinberg/Discussion-Forum/WelcomePage.html
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.