Genotoxicity of disinfection byproducts and disinfected waters: A review of recent literature

Publication date: July 2018Source: Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, Volume 831Author(s): Constanza Cortés, Ricard MarcosAbstractThe presence of water disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in tap water, resulting from disinfection processes involving chlorination or chloramination, increases the mutagenicity of the water and may pose adverse health effects. The topic was reviewed by DeMarini and coworkers in 2007. Here, we review research on the genotoxicity of DBPs published since that time. Studies, primarily using the Salmonella mutagenicity assay, have continued to show that chlorination or chloramination of source waters results in finished, tap, or swimming pool/spa water that is more mutagenic than the original source water. The genotoxic potencies of DBPs in both bacterial and mammalian cells generally rank as iodinated> brominated> chlorinated. Several DBPs are genotoxic in vivo in plants as well as in animals such as the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the zebrafish Danio rerio. Studies primarily using the comet assay in mammalian cells have identified several non-regulated DBPs as genotoxic. However, the comet assay detects DNA damage that is generally repaired by the cells; thus, genotoxicity data more relevant to persistent mutations, such as chromosomal or gene mutations, are needed for these DBPs. Recent molecular epidemiology has indicated that activation of brominated trihalomethanes by the enzyme GSTT1 and the lack of metabolism o...

Source: Mutation Research Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis - July 6, 2018 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research