Chemical hazards in drinking-water
Trihalomethanes
Trihalomethanes are considered in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. You can link from here to:
The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality also consider for individual chemicals:
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Aspects of analytical achievability [Section 8.3, pp. 157-166]
pdf, 220kb -
Technical achievability (through treatment and other means) [Section 8.4, pp. 166-184]
pdf, 220kb
Rolling revision - BDCM
Trihalomethanes (BDCM) are included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Background
A significant new study on BDCM is expected to become available at the end of 2005.
Expected end-product(s)
Pending
Progress to date
The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed that a significant new study on BDCM, with results expected by the end of 2005, should be assessed to determined whether there is a need to revisit the guideline.
Rolling revision - Total trihalomethanes
Total trihalomethanes is included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Background
The Third Edition of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality stated that authorities should not add up the guidelines of individual THMs to derive a guideline for total THMs, as the four THMs are believed to have basically similar mechanisms of action. As the four THMs now appear to have different mechanisms of action, this statement was deleted from the first addendum.
Expected end-product(s)
Possibly sentence to be added to THMs background document, for second addendum.
Progress to date
The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed on a plan of work
Other publications of interest
In peparation
- Chemical safety of drinking-water: assessing priorities for risk management
- Managing surface water for health