An assessment of risk from trihalomethane exposure at the consumer level in three Romanian cities

The main source of municipal water in Cluj, Targu Mures and Zalau is surface waters treated with chlorine. No studies have been done to describe the relationship of surface water chlorination in these cities with possible health risks from consumption of this water or factors that may contribute to varying levels of CBPs in these areas. We undertook sampling from water treatment plants and from a range of locations in Cluj, Targu Mures and Zalau. We then examined the influence of city and distance from chlorination site upon THM and chloroform levels. To better characterize the health risks posed to consumers of water from treatment plants in Romania, we used the ATSDR established MRLs to assess the risk of bladder cancer from THM and chloroform exposure using chemical analysis of THM concentrations of water obtained directly from the water treatment plants. THMs and chloroform levels in the three cities ranged from 9.04-116.79 mug/L and 9.04-78.24 mug/L, respectively. Both THMs and chloroform levels were found to be lowest in Cluj-Napoca as compared with those in the other two cities where levels appeared to be similar. Mean THM levels were 48.120 (SE=3.917), 81.883 (SE=4.014) and 81.521 (SE=4.014) in Cluj, Targu Mures and Zalau, respectively. Mean chloroform levels were 35.386 (SE=2.848), 64.784 (SE=2.919) and 50.778 (SE=2.919) in Cluj, Targu Mures and Zalau, respectively. Multivariate linear regression showed non-significant (p=0.108) effect of distance on THM levels and a significant effect of city in predicting THM levels. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt at investigating the levels of THMs, specifically chloroform, in these Romanian cities to characterize possible cancer risk to residents. Measured levels of chloroform in this study are below the US EPA standards for acute, intermediate and chronic exposures. Results from this study confirm that Romania has been successful in its efforts to adhere to UN drinking water standards. Additionally, it suggests that consumers of chlorinated drinking water in Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures and Zalau are unlikely to face long-term health risks from consumption. This assumption, however, should be made cautiously due to the complex nature of the exposure and should be further studied.