Use of Chlorine for water purification may lead to cancer: IIT ISM research team

IIT Indian School of Mines (ISM) research team has made a major breakthrough by finding that use of chlorine for purification of drinking water may lead to cancer and other diseases in human beings.

The two members research team of IIT ISM under Prof SK Gupta and research scholar Minashree Kumari of the environmental science and engineering department have found that chlorination of water leads to the formation of trihalomethanes. Consumption of trihalomethanes at a level for a long time may increase the risk of cancer.

The finding of the IIT ISM  research team has also revealed that intake of trihalomethanes not only causes cancer but its long-time use has also side impacts like the low birth weight in babies, premature birth and miscarriage.

Trihalomethanes are a result of a reaction between chlorine (used for disinfecting tap water) and natural organic matter in the water.

The research was conducted under a sponsored programme by the Ministry of Human Resource Development Department. The IIT ISM team jumped to the conclusion after a meta-analysis of 78 research work in different parts of the world. 

The team also investigated scenarios of  Russia, the USA, Spain, Turkey, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Egypt.

“Though trihalomethanes enter the human body through various ways including ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation but chlorinated drinking water is a major pathway of introduction,” said Prof SK Gupta.

In course of the research study, the IIT ISM faculty members also checked samples of five drinking water treatment plants including three in Jharkhand and two in West Bengal.

Prof SK Gupta pointed out that Trihalomathanes are not the sole problem of Jharkhand and Bengal albeit entire developing countries are suffering from it as they do not adopt the proper disinfection practices as per guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other recognized agencies.

He said the use of alternate disinfectants like mono chloramines instead of chlorine may help in checking trihalomethanes in the water to a great extent. 

“But the best way to prevent trihalomethanes is the use of a hybrid system of adsorption in the water treatment plant,” said Prof Gupta.

He further added that though the use of alternate disinfectants like mono chloramines may reduce the trihalomethanes by 30%, it may trigger the development of Nitosamines which themselves have carcinoma properties. Dr Gupta said research on the use of alternative disinfectants to reduce trihalomethanes is still in progress.

“Regular monitoring of natural organic carbon level in water should also be made mandatory to prevent the trihalomethanes,” he said while suggesting that the formation of trihalomethanes also depends on the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) in water and uses of Applied Chloranie dose.

“Regular monitoring of natural organic carbon level should also be made mandatory to prevent the concentration of Trihalomethanes in Water.” further suggested Gupta and added the formation of Trihalomethanes also depends on the Presence of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) present in Water and the usage of Applied Chlorine dose.