Occurrence and control of genotoxins in drinking water: a monitoring proposal

Journal of Public Health Research

Elisabetta Ceretti¹  Claudia Zani¹  Ilaria Zerbini¹  Milena Villarini¹  Donatella Feretti¹  Silvano Monarca²  Massimo Moretti² 

[1] Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia;Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Unit of Public Health), University of Perugia;

关键词: Drinking water genotoxins;    Disinfection by-products;    Short-term genotoxicity tests;    Health effects;    Control of drinking water genotoxins;   

DOI  :  10.4081/jphr.2016.769

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Many studies have shown the presence of numerous organic genotoxins and carcinogens in drinking water. These toxic substances derive not only from pollution, but also from the disinfection treatments, particularly when water is obtained from surface sources and then chlorinated. Most of the chlorinated compounds in drinking water are nonvolatile and are difficult to characterize. Thus, it has been proposed to study such complex mixtures using short-term genotoxicity tests predictive of carcinogenic activity. Mutagenicity of water before and after disinfection has mainly been studied by the Salmonella/microsome (Ames test); in vitro genotoxicity tests have also been performed in yeasts and mammalian cells; in situ monitoring of genotoxins has also been performed using complete organisms such as aquatic animals or plants (in vivo). The combination of bioassay data together with results of chemical analyses would give us a more firm basis for the assessment of human health risks related to the consumption of drinking water. Tests with different genetic end-points complement each other with regard to sensitivity toward environmental genotoxins and are useful in detecting low genotoxicity levels which are expected in drinking water samples.

【 授权许可】

Unknown