Abstract:
Objective To investigate the contamination status of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water in a city in northwest China, and to conduct a health risk assessment.
Methods In 2024, drinking water quality monitoring was carried out in 7 districts and 1 county of a city in northwest China, covering all municipal water supply systems and rural drinking water safety projects in the region. Water samples were collected once during the dry season and once during the wet season, with a total of 26 finished water samples, 115 terminal water samples, and 30 secondary water samples obtained. According to the Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water—Part 10: Disinfection By-products Indices (GB/T 5750.10-2023), six DBPs were determined in water samples, including trichloromethane (TCM), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), tribromomethane (TBM), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA). The detection results were evaluated for compliance with the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2022). The health risk assessment model recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency was used for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessments of DBPs.
Results In water samples, the qualified rate of TCM was 98.25%, while the qualified rates of the remaining five DBPs all reached 100%. The total qualified rate of trihalomethanes DBPs was 97.66%. The carcinogenic risk (R) of DBPs in adults ranged from 3.3×10-7 to 8.00×10-6, and the R value of DBPs in children ranged from 2.7×10-7 to 6.73×10-6. In both adult and child populations, the carcinogenic risks of TCM and TBM in terminal water and secondary water were within an acceptable range, while BDCM, DBCM, DCAA, and TCAA fell within the control concern interval. The non-carcinogenic risk index (hazard index) values of all six DBPs were less than 1, indicating that no significant adverse health effects were expected.
Conclusion The non-carcinogenic health risks of DBPs in drinking water in a city in northwest China are still at an acceptable level. It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring and control of BDCM, DBCM, DCAA, and TCAA, and optimize the water supply disinfection process to ensure drinking water safety and improve residents' health.