WILL USEPA REGULATE NITROSAMINES IN DRINKING WATER?

Apparently,USEPA is considering whether to regulate nitrosamines in drinking water provided by public water supplies. What is the world are nitrosamines?

Nitrosamines are a group of approximately 300 organic compounds, most of which have been found to be carcinogenic in a variety of experimental animals. They are found in certain foods, such as fried bacon, cured meets and beer, in tobacco products, in rubber products, in certain cosmetics; and in gastric juices of the human stomach. Mouth bacteria can turn nitrates found in certain vegetables into nitrites, which can form nitrosating agents. Foods containing amines can react with these agents to produce nitrosamines in the stomach.

In public water supplies, nitrosamines can be formed by disinfection of water using chloramines.

In the September, 2012 issue of Journal AWWA, J. Alan Roberson discusses USEPA's potential regulation of nitrosamines in drinking water ("Regulating Nitrosamines Now Will Be Controversial"), p. 10). He points out that controversy could arise because, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, USEPA must conclude that such regulation will result in a meaningful health risk reduction. For example, he points to research concluding that oral intake of nitrosamines from drinking water comprised only 0.2% compared with other outside sources and that generated in body fluids. Advanced treatment installed by a utility to comply with a standard for nitrosamines in drinking water, therefore, may not achieve any meaningful health risk reduction.

Moreover, the article points out, such advanced treatment may be like punching a pillow on one end, which then bulges out on the other end. Treatment for nitrosamines using chlorine or ozone could result in formation of more regulated disinfection byproducts requiring more control.

Logically, what all this seems to boil down to is the necessity for a thorough cost/benefit analysis of any potential regulation of nitrosamines in drinking water. Only in that way can unnecessary cost burdens ultimately imposed on users by higher rates can be avoided. Prudent water utilities will not only monitor this regulatory process, but also participate in it.