OPTIMIZATION OF METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF DBPs B. CANCHO* Nutrition and Bromatology Group

Chloroform and other bromochlorotrihalomethanes were first identified as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in chlorinated water in 1970s. Since then, many other DBPs have been identified such as haloacetonitriles, haloacetaldehydes, cyanogen halides, aldehydes, ketoacids, chlorite, bromate and other organic and inorganic compounds. Due to their occurrence and potential health risks, the U.S.EPA promulgated the Stage I Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts (D-DBP) Rule in 1998. To assist water utilities monitoring DBPs in their finished water, the U.S. EPA published a list of approved analytical methods under the D-DBP Rule. In 1996, the U.S. EPA also promulgated the Information Collection Rule (ICR) to collect brackground information on DBPs and pathogens for the Stage II D-DBP-Rule. Actually 500 DBPs are known but few have been investigated for their quantitative occurrence and health effects. Due to the fact that their identification and quantitation have become extremely important to drinking water companies in order to reduce or remove their presence, other analytical methods different from those proposed by U.S. EPA have been optimized and are now commented in this article.