Assessment of Trihalomethanes’ Potential Risk in Drinking Water in Selected Military Centers in Tehran Province

Drinking water disinfection is an essential process for elimination of the microbial contaminations. Water disinfection by chlorine compounds can lead to formation of Trihalomethanes (THMs) as a disinfection by-products and carcinogenic effects. The aim of the study was investigation of potential risks assessment of THMs occurrence in drinking water in selected military centers in Tehran province.

This cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted in 2020. Thirty samples were collected from urban and groundwater sources. Free residual chlorine, temperature, pH and THMs of the samples were measured by conventional methods in which GC Mass measured THMs concentration. The hazard potential of THMs was calculated based on THQ, TR and PTDI indexes.

The average concentration of THMs in groundwater and urban water was 2.25 µg/L and 2.39 µg/L respectively. The THMs concentration had positive but non-significant correlation with free residual chlorine, temperature and pH. Provisional tolerable daily intake of groundwater and urban water was 0.10×10-3 and 0.11×10-3 mg/kg.day, respectively. The target hazard quotient for all selected centers was 0.001 and the target cancer risk for groundwater and urban water was 0.32×10-8and 0.34×10-8, respectively.

The results revealed that in selected centers, drinking water had not health risks from point of THMs concentration.