Scientists have confirmed the existence of a previously unknown compound in chloramine-disinfected drinking water, providing new insights into the potential toxicology of tap water.
A collaborative research team from the United States and Switzerland has identified this compound in drinking water treated with chloramine, a widely used disinfectant effective in preventing diseases like cholera and typhoid.
In the U.S. alone, over 113 million people are estimated to consume water treated with chloramine.
Researchers identified the compound as chloronitroamide anion (chemical formula: Cl–N–NO2−), which is the final breakdown product of inorganic chloramine. While its toxicity remains uncertain, its similarity to other toxic compounds and its widespread occurrence have raised concerns about potential public health risks. The identification of this compound is a significant breakthrough in itself.
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The findings were published in the journal Science. One of the lead authors, Julian Fairey, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas, highlighted the importance of this discovery. According to Fairey, scientists have suspected the existence of this compound for decades but were unable to identify it. He began investigating this mystery ten years ago.
“This is a very stable, low-molecular-weight chemical,” Fairey explained. “Detecting it was incredibly challenging. The hardest part was confirming its identity and proving the accuracy of our structural determination.”
To achieve this, Fairey successfully synthesized the compound in the lab for the first time and sent it to co-author Juliana Laszakovits, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, for analysis.
The discovery has inevitably raised questions about the health risks associated with the new compound, as no prior toxicity studies have been conducted.
In a previous interview, Fairey explained that drinking water disinfection is known to produce some toxic effects, primarily chronic toxicity. Over decades, exposure to drinking water has been linked to increased cancer risk for some individuals. However, the exact chemicals responsible for these effects have not been identified. The primary aim of the research is to uncover these chemicals and their formation pathways.
Confirming the chloronitroamide anion is a crucial step toward this goal. Regulatory bodies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and academic researchers are expected to investigate whether this compound is associated with cancer or poses other health risks. At the very least, its toxicity can now be studied.
Fairey emphasized that even if the compound itself proves non-toxic, its discovery contributes valuable knowledge about the formation pathways of other compounds, particularly toxins. “If we understand the process by which it forms, we may be able to control it,” he explained.
This breakthrough lays the groundwork for future research, offering a new perspective on drinking water disinfection and its potential health implications.
