Simple and Sensitive Method for Synchronous Quantification of Regulated and Unregulated Priority Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water

Dueto their elevated concentrations in drinking water,comparedto other emerging environmental contaminants, disinfection byproducts(DBPs) have become a global concern. To address this, we have createda simple and sensitive method for simultaneously measuring 9 classesof DBPs. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and iodo-acetic acids (IAAs) aredetermined using silylation derivatization, replacing diazomethaneor acidic methanol derivatization with a more environmentally friendlyand simpler treatment process that also offers greater sensitivity.Mono-/di-haloacetaldehydes (mono-/di-HALs) are directly analyzed withoutderivatization, along with trihalomethanes (THMs), iodo-THMs, haloketones,haloacetonitriles, haloacetamides, and halonitromethanes. Of the 50DBPs studied, recoveries for most were 70-130%, LOQs for mostwere 0.01-0.05 & mu;g/L, and relative standard deviationswere <30%. We subsequently applied this method to 13 home tap watersamples. Total concentrations of 9 classes of DBPs were 39.6-79.2 & mu;g/L, in which unregulated priority DBPs contributed 42% oftotal DBP concentrations and 97% of total calculated cytotoxicity,highlighting the importance of monitoring their presence in drinkingwater. Br-DBPs were the dominant contributors to total DBPs (54%)and total calculated cytotoxicity (92%). Nitrogenous DBPs contributed25% of total DBPs while inducing 57% of total calculated cytotoxicity.HALs were the most important toxicity drivers (40%), particularlyfour mono-/di-HALs, which induced 28% of total calculated cytotoxicity.This simple and sensitive method allows the synchronous analysis of9 classes of regulated and unregulated priority DBPs and overcomesthe weaknesses of some other methods especially for HAAs/IAAs andmono-/di-HALs, providing a useful tool for research on regulated andunregulated priority DBPs.

Automated summary

Due to the high concentrations of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water, compared to other emerging environmental contaminants, DBPs have become a global concern. We have developed a simple and sensitive method for simultaneously measuring 9 classes of DBPs. This method overcomes the weaknesses of other methods, particularly for HAAs/IAAs and mono-/di-HALs, and provides a useful tool for studying regulated and unregulated priority DBPs.