Minireview: the health implications of water treatment with ozone

Journal Article · Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Life Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(82)90643-9· OSTI ID:5447991

Carmichael, N G; Winder, C; Borges, S H; Backhouse, B L; Lewis, P D

Ozone is a highly efficient disinfectant which may have significant advantages in water treatment compared to chlorine. It has, however, been shown that mutagenic and possibly carcinogenic byproducts may be produced under certain conditions of ozonation. Light chlorination following ozonization may meet the highest standards of disinfection. In addition the destruction of much of the organic matter by prior ozone treatment may well result in less harmful chlorinated and brominated products in the finished water. In many cases ozone treatment alone may suffice. It would be desirable to test with long term in vivo experiments which of the alternatives produces the best combination of microbiologically clean and pleasant water with minimum mutagenic and carcinogenic effect.

• Research Organization: Department of Histopathology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London
• OSTI ID: 5447991
• Journal Information: Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 30:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
CHLORINE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OZONE
WATER TREATMENT
HEALTH HAZARDS
CARCINOGENESIS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISINFECTANTS
MICROORGANISMS
MUTAGENESIS
PUBLIC HEALTH
WATER QUALITY
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GERMICIDES
HALOGENS
HAZARDS
NONMETALS
PATHOGENESIS
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)
552000 - Public Health