Cancer-causing chemical found in chlorinated water

Scientists have discovered a new chemical in chlorinated water that could be cancer-causing.

The compound, chloronitramide anion, is like other agents that are known to be toxic, and it could be putting public health at risk, say researchers from the University of Arkansas.

The scientists are the first to isolate it, although its existence has been suspected for over 10 years.  “It’s a very difficult chemical to find.  The hardest part was identifying it and proving it was the structure we were saying it was,” said Julian Fairey, one of the researchers.

Analysis of samples discovered it could be a toxic compound that is responsible for cases of cancer that can happen to people who drink public water for many years.  “It’s well recognized that when we disinfect drinking water, there is some toxicity that’s created.  A certain number of people may get cancer from drinking water over several decades, but we hadn’t identified what chemicals are driving the toxicity,” he explained.

Around 113 million Americans are drinking chlorinated water, which is disinfected by adding chlorine and ammonia and is designed to eradicate diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever from public water.

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