Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes

Trihalomethanes (THM), a major class of disinfection by-products, are widespread and are associated with adverse health effects. We conducted a global evaluation of current THM regulations and concentrations in drinking water. We included 120 countries (∼7000 million inhabitants in 2016), representi...

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Autores: Villanueva, Cristina M.; Evlampidou, Iro; Fathelrahman, Ibrahim; Donat-Vargas, Carolina; Valentín, Antònia; Kogevinas, Manolis
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Estado:Published version
Data de publicação:2023
País:España
Recursos:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositório:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10230/56211
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10230/56211
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.119568
Nível de acesso:Acesso aberto
Palavra-chave:Drinking water
Chemicals
Disinfection by products
Trihalomethanes
Quality
Routine monitoring
Regulation
International
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author Villanueva, Cristina M.
author2 Evlampidou, Iro
Fathelrahman, Ibrahim
Donat-Vargas, Carolina
Valentín, Antònia
Kogevinas, Manolis
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author_browse Donat-Vargas, Carolina
Evlampidou, Iro
Fathelrahman, Ibrahim
Kogevinas, Manolis
Valentín, Antònia
Villanueva, Cristina M.
author_facet Villanueva, Cristina M.
Evlampidou, Iro
Fathelrahman, Ibrahim
Donat-Vargas, Carolina
Valentín, Antònia
Kogevinas, Manolis
author_role author
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
description Trihalomethanes (THM), a major class of disinfection by-products, are widespread and are associated with adverse health effects. We conducted a global evaluation of current THM regulations and concentrations in drinking water. We included 120 countries (∼7000 million inhabitants in 2016), representing 94% of the world population. We searched for country regulations and THM routine monitoring data using a questionnaire addressed to referent contacts. Scientific and gray literature was reviewed where contacts were not identified or declined participation. We obtained or estimated annual average THM concentrations, weighted to the population served when possible. Drinking water regulations were ascertained for 116/120 (97%) countries, with 89/116 (77%) including THM regulations. Routine monitoring was implemented in 47/89 (53%) of countries with THM regulations. THM data with a varying population coverage was obtained for 69/120 (58%) countries consisting of ∼5600 million inhabitants (76% of world's population in 2016). Population coverage was ≥90% in 14 countries, mostly in the Global North, 50–89% in 19 countries, 11–49% among 21 countries, and ≤10% in 14 countries including India, China, Russian Federation and Nigeria (40% of world's population). An enormous gap exists in THM regulatory status, routine monitoring practice, reporting and data availability among countries, especially between high- vs. low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). More efforts are warranted to regulate and systematically assess chemical quality of drinking water, centralize, harmonize, and openly report data, particularly in LMICs.
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institution Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
network_acronym_str ES
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oai_identifier_str oai:recercat.cat:10230/56211
publishDate 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher Elsevier
publisherStr Elsevier
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
spelling Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes Villanueva, Cristina M. Evlampidou, Iro Fathelrahman, Ibrahim Donat-Vargas, Carolina Valentín, Antònia Kogevinas, Manolis Drinking water Chemicals Disinfection by products Trihalomethanes Quality Routine monitoring Regulation International Trihalomethanes (THM), a major class of disinfection by-products, are widespread and are associated with adverse health effects. We conducted a global evaluation of current THM regulations and concentrations in drinking water. We included 120 countries (∼7000 million inhabitants in 2016), representing 94% of the world population. We searched for country regulations and THM routine monitoring data using a questionnaire addressed to referent contacts. Scientific and gray literature was reviewed where contacts were not identified or declined participation. We obtained or estimated annual average THM concentrations, weighted to the population served when possible. Drinking water regulations were ascertained for 116/120 (97%) countries, with 89/116 (77%) including THM regulations. Routine monitoring was implemented in 47/89 (53%) of countries with THM regulations. THM data with a varying population coverage was obtained for 69/120 (58%) countries consisting of ∼5600 million inhabitants (76% of world's population in 2016). Population coverage was ≥90% in 14 countries, mostly in the Global North, 50–89% in 19 countries, 11–49% among 21 countries, and ≤10% in 14 countries including India, China, Russian Federation and Nigeria (40% of world's population). An enormous gap exists in THM regulatory status, routine monitoring practice, reporting and data availability among countries, especially between high- vs. low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). More efforts are warranted to regulate and systematically assess chemical quality of drinking water, centralize, harmonize, and openly report data, particularly in LMICs. We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019–2023″ Program (CEX2018–000806-S) and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program, and from the University of South Carolina's Magellan scholarship and Honors College. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (Grant agreement 308610). Elsevier http://hdl.handle.net/10230/56211 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.119568
spellingShingle Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
Villanueva, Cristina M.
Drinking water
Chemicals
Disinfection by products
Trihalomethanes
Quality
Routine monitoring
Regulation
International
status_str publishedVersion
title Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
title_full Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
title_fullStr Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
title_full_unstemmed Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
title_short Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
title_sort Global assessment of chemical quality of drinking water: the case of trihalomethanes
topic Drinking water
Chemicals
Disinfection by products
Trihalomethanes
Quality
Routine monitoring
Regulation
International
topic_facet Drinking water
Chemicals
Disinfection by products
Trihalomethanes
Quality
Routine monitoring
Regulation
International
url http://hdl.handle.net/10230/56211
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.119568