Award Address (ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology, sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., in memory of Joseph J. Breen). Water, water everywhere, but is it safe to drink?

ENVR 104

Susan D. Richardson, richardson.susan@epa.gov, National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 960 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605
Drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs) have been associated with adverse human health effects, including bladder cancer, early term miscarriage, and birth defects. While it is vitally important to kill harmful pathogens in water, it is also important to minimize harmful chemicals formed. Despite more than 30 years of research on DBPs, it is currently not known which DBPs are responsible for the human health effects. To this end, our research group has used mass spectrometry to uncover more than 300 DBPs that were not previously known. We have also linked with toxicologists to determine which may be responsible for the human health effects observed, and have investigated DBPs formed by alternative disinfectants that are increasing in use. What we currently know, along with new research directions will be presented. (Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy).
 

Advances in Drinking Water Disinfection and Disinfection Byproduct Management
8:30 AM-12:10 PM, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 236, Oral

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008