THMs are not carcinogenic. See WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality 4th edition, 2011. BDCM was not completely reviewed at that time, but was negative in the latest cancer testing. They were thought to be carcinogens when originally regulated in the 1970's based upon testing the animals when they were dissolved in corn oil. Subsequent testing in drinking water has shown that they are not carcinogenic under the high dose test conditions. THMs, along with haloacetonitriles are primarily used as indicators of the aggregated halogenated chemical disinfection byproducts because they are readily analyzed and they represent a high percentage of the weight of disinfection byproducts. The Irish Times should rewrite their article.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
THMs are not carcinogenic. See WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality 4th edition, 2011. BDCM was not completely reviewed at that time, but was negative in the latest cancer testing. They were thought to be carcinogens when originally regulated in the 1970's based upon testing the animals when they were dissolved in corn oil. Subsequent testing in drinking water has shown that they are not carcinogenic under the high dose test conditions. THMs, along with haloacetonitriles are primarily used as indicators of the aggregated halogenated chemical disinfection byproducts because they are readily analyzed and they represent a high percentage of the weight of disinfection byproducts. The Irish Times should rewrite their article.