Occurrence and Related Risk Assessment of Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water, Ahvaz, Iran



Babaei AA^{1, 2} ; Alavi N¹ ; Hassani G^{1, 3} ; Yousefian F⁴ ; Shirmardi M¹ ; Atari L¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Fresenius Environmental Bulletin Published:2015

Abstract

The main objectives of this study were to assess the concentration, cancer risk and non-cancer risk of trihalome-thanes (THMs) via multiple routes such as dermal absorption, oral ingestion, and inhalation exposure in drinking water of Ahvaz, Iran. To implement the assays, five sampling sites were selected and 90 samples were collected during the period of December to September 2012. The cancer slope factors for each THM compounds are used combined with exposure parameters, to estimate the cancer and non-cancer risks (Hazard Index) with consideration of different exposure routes. Total concentration of THMs varied from 17.35 to 174.75 microgram per liter andpredomi-nant species of THMs are bromoform and chloro-dibro-mo-methane. Among the three different exposure routs studied, inhalation then dermal routs has an important role in total cancer risk. Total cancer risk were 8.5∗10-5, 9.47∗10-5, 9.08∗10-5, 7.16∗10-5 and 9.06∗10-5 for Kian Abad, Chamran University, FarhangShahr, Meli rah and Koroush station, respectively. Hazard Index (HI) levels which calculatedwere below unity but non-cancer risk related with inhalation route higher than oral and dermal pathways. Calculated HI was 0.132, 0.102, .097, 0.121 and 0.11 for mentioned sampling sites respectively. © by PSP.