The formation of drinking water disinfection byproducts (DBPs) is a major issue
because of their implications for human health. Over 500 chemicals attributed
to DBPs have been identified in laboratory-scale and full-scale studies over the
past three decades. However, depending on the disinfection method used and
the quality of source water, the type of chemical compounds formed may vary.
Next to trihalomethanes, halogenated acetic acids represent the second largest
class by concentration, but to date only the chlorine and bromine-containing
species have been explored. Compounds containing iodine and bromine are
primarily formed due to the reaction of chlorine or chloramines with natural
organic matter in the source water when iodide and/or bromide are present.
Iodoorgano compounds have recently been found to possess the highest
potential for adverse health effects in terms of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity
among the halogenated acetic acids.
The generation and detection of the methyl esters of iodoacetic acid and the
disubstituted species (diiodoacetic acid, bromoiodoacetic acid and
chloroiodoacetic acid) by gas chromatography with electron capture detection
(GC-ECD) results in a reliable and sensitive method for the quantification of
those acids among their bromine and chlorine-containing counterparts (the nine
other haloacetic acids, HAA9). Includes 4 references, table, figures.