Scientists have uncovered a new chemical compound lurking in U.S. drinking water, potentially exposing one in five Americans to an unidentified health risk.
Challenges in Identification Potential Health Risks Yet to Be Investigated The study authors emphasized that this newly discovered substance “is a potential human health concern and is therefore an immediate candidate for quantitation in source waters, finished drinking waters, and wastewater effluents.” They also wrote that these findings warrant an assessment of chloronitramide anion’s carcinogenicity and reproductive and developmental toxicities. Identifying chloronitramide anion is a step toward understanding these complex chemical processes.
While it remains to be seen whether this compound will be linked to any cancers or other adverse health risks, future research by academics and regulatory agencies, including the EPA, will assess its implications. “Even if it is not toxic,” Fairey said, “finding it can help us understand the pathways for how other compounds are formed, including toxins.” Knowledge of a compound’s origins can lead to its control, he noted.
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