Investigación de trihalometanos en agua potable del Estado Carabobo, Venezuela

Sarmiento, A.; Rojas, M.; Medina, E.; Olivet, C.; Casanova, J.

doi:10.1016/S0213-9111(03)71711-7

Información del artículo

Resumen

Objetivo

La desinfeccion del agua con cloro en las plantas de potabilizacion da lugar a la formacion de trihalometanos (THM). Estos compuestos estan asociados a efectos adversos para la salud. En este estudio se determino la concentracion de THM en el agua para consumo humano suministrada por las redes de distribucion de los dos principales sistemas de potabilizacion de agua del Estado Carabobo, la planta Alejo Zuloaga y el embalse Pao-Cachinche que forman el Sistema Regional del Centro I (SRC-I) y la planta Lucio Baldo Soules y el embalse Pao-La Balsa que forman el Sistema Regional del Centro II (SRC-II).

Metodos

Se analizaron un total de 144 muestras recolectadas durante 6 muestreos que se realizaron durante los anos 2000 y 2001. La concentracion de THM se determino por cromatografia de gases, mediante la tecnica de headspace. Se determinaron las concentraciones para los siguientes THM: cloroformo (CHCl3), bromoformo (CHBr3), dibromoclorometano (CHBr2Cl) y diclorobromometano (CHCl2Br).

Resultados

La concentracion de THM totales estuvo entre 47,84 y 93,23 μg/l. El CHCl3 fue el compuesto predominante, representando el 83% de total de THM para el SRC-I y el 82% en el SRC-II. Se encontro que las concentraciones de THM totales en el SRC-I (Red Baja y Red San Diego) son significativamente superiores (p < 0,05) con respecto a la concentracion maxima permisible establecida por la Agencia de Proteccion Ambiental de los EE.UU. (80 μg/l) para el total de los cuatro THM.

Conclusiones

Los resultados demuestran que en la zona de estudio existe un riesgo de efectos adversos para la salud por la presencia de THM en agua de consumo humano, especialmente en la Red Baja y Red San Diego del SRC-I.

Palabras clave:

Cloro

Desinfeccion

Trihalometanos

Agua potable

Abstract

Objective

Disinfection of water with chlorine in water treatment plants leads to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs). These compounds are associated with adverse health effects. The aim of this study was to analyze THM concentrations in the water provided for human consumption in the two main water treatment systems of Carabobo State: the Alejo Zuloaga plant and the Pao-Cachinche reservoir, which form the Central Regional System I (CRS I), and the Lucio Baldo Soules plant and the Pao-La Balsa reservoir, which form the Central Regional System II (CRS II).

Methods

We analyzed 144 water samples collected in 6 samplings carried out in 2000 and 2001. THM concentrations were determined by gas chromatography using the headspace technique. The concentrations of the following THMs were measured: chloroform (CHCl3), bromoform (CHBr3), chlorodibromomethane (CHBr2Cl) and bromodichloromethane (CHCl2Br).

Results

The concentration of total THMs was between 47.84 μg/l and 94.23 μg/l. CHCl3 was the most commonly formed compound representing 83% of all THMs in the CRS I and 82% in the CRS II. The concentrations of total THMs in the CRS I, specifically in the Baja and San Diego networks, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than permissible levels set by the American Environmental Protection Agency (80 μg/l) for the sum of all four THMs.

Conclusions

The results show that in the area studied there is a risk of adverse health effects due to THMs in drinking water, especially in the Baja and San Diego networks.

Key words:

Chlorine

Disinfection

Trihalomethanes

Drinking water

El Texto completo está disponible en PDF

Biblografía

[1.]

G. Craun, R. Bull, R. Clark, R. Clark, J. Doull, G. Marsh, et al.

Balancing chemical and microbial risk of drinking water disinfection Part I. Benefits and potential risks.

J Water SRTAqua, 43 (1994), pp. 192-199

[2.]

R. Leidholdt.

Chlorine-Special Agent for desinfection water.

Opflow, 8 (1982), pp. 1-7

[3.]

G. Boorman, V. Dellarco, J. Dunnick, R. Chapin, S. Hunter, F. Hauchman, et al.

Drinking water disinfection by-products: review and approach to toxicity evaluation.

Environ Health Perspect, 107 (1999), pp. 207-217

Medline

[4.]

J. Kuivinen, H. Johnson.

Determination of trihalomethanes and some chlorinated solvents in drinking water by headspace technique with capillary column gas chromatography.

Water Res, 33 (1999), pp. 1201-1208

[5.]

R. Clark, M. Sivaganesan.

Predicting chlorine residuals and formation of THMs in drinking water.

J Envir Engrg, 124 (1998), pp. 1903-1910

[6.]

C. Weisel, H. Kim, P. Haltmeier, J. Klotz.

Exposure estimates to disinfection by-produts of chlorinates drinking water.

Environ Health Perspect, 107 (1999), pp. 103-110

Medline

[7.]

D. Savitz, K. Andrews, L. Pastore.

Drinking water and pregnancy outcome in Central North Carolina. Source, amount and trihalomethane levels.

Environ Health Perspect, 103 (1995), pp. 592-596

Medline

[8.]

C.M. Villanueva, M. Kogevinas, J.D. Grimalt.

Cloración de agua potable en España y cáncer de vejiga.

Gac Sanit, 15 (2001), pp. 48-53

Medline

[9.]

Así va el censo 2001. Avance informativo N.° 9 [citado 13-11- 2002]. Disponible en: http://www.ine.gov.ve/ine/censo/boletines/así_va_el_censo09.pdf

[10.]

UCV.

Recursos hídricos en Venezuela. I seminario: situación y perspectivas.

Publicaciones Comisión de estudios interdisciplinarios,

[11.]

F. Saavedra, G. Breto.

Una metodología para la medición de THMs presentes en agua potable (trabajo de ascenso).

[12.]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Primary drinking water regulations: disinfectants and disinfection by products notice of data availability,

[13.]

W. Kuo, T. Chiang, I. Lo, J. Lai, C. Chan, J. Wang.

VOC Concentration in Taiwan's household drinking water.

Sci Total Environ, 208 (1997), pp. 41-47

Medline

[14.]

J. Calderón, C. Capell, F. Centrich, L. Artazcoz, M. González-Cabré, J.R. Villalbí.

Subproductos halogenados de la cloración en agua de consumo público.

Gac Sanit, 16 (2002), pp. 241-243

Medline

[15.]

K. Lee, B. Kim, J. Hong, H. Pyo, S. Park, D. Lee.

A study on the distribution of chlorination by-products (CBPs) in treated water in Korea.

Water Res, 35 (2001), pp. 2861-2872

Medline

[16.]

M. El Shafy, A. Grünwald.

THM formation in water supply in South Bohemia, Czech republic.

Water Res, 34 (2000), pp. 3453-3459

[17.]

W. Elshorbagy, H. Abu-qdais, M. Elsheamy.

Simulation of THM species in water distribution systems.

Water Res, 14 (2000), pp. 3431-3439

[18.]

I. Tumbas, B. Dalmacija, Z. Tamas, E. Karlovic.

The effect of different drinking water treatment processes on the rate of chloroform formation in the reactions of natural organic matter with hypochlorite.

Water Res, 33 (1999), pp. 3715-3722

[19.]

E. Chang, S. Chao, P. Chiang, J. Lee.

Effects of chlorination on THMs formation in raw water.

Environ Toxicol Chem, 56 (1996), pp. 211-225

[20.]

MARN.

Estudio de la cuenca del lago de Valencia integral de los tributarios (1997-2000).

pp. 7-22

[21.]

A. Prieto, L. Herrera.

Determinación de trihalometanos en el agua potable de Maracaibo.