A team of researchers from the United States and Switzerland has reported the discovery of a previously unknown compound in chloraminated drinking water. Inorganic chloramines are commonly used to disinfect drinking water to safeguard public health from diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. It's estimated that more than 113 million people in the United States alone drink chloraminated water.
Tldr: chloronitramide anion, a decay product of the chloramine disinfectant routinely added to water. No one knows if it’s toxic.
It’s toxic to microbes.
Not that it’s really an issue since water used in drug formulations are not treated with chloramine disinfectants. But usage of those disinfectants can contribute to nitrosamines in some drugs, which no one wants.
Incredibly unlikely (impossible?) taking a drug with chloramine disinfected water, don’t worry.
There are way more nitrosamines in a thin slice of cured meat than any drug had before the regulations were put in place.
Interesting, I’ve never really thought about that, makes sense though. Also looks like decent amounts potentially (~0-84 ug/kg).
Surprising when they’re usually only allowed in the single digit ppm range in pharmaceuticals, and many have been recalled due to nitrosamines.
I think it’s because ones a drug prescribed for a medical condition. So you may have a condition where your doctor says “stay away from cured meats” but might prescribe you a drug that unwittingly has what they’re looking to avoid. And just in general drugs give you a lot of control: there should only be what you know and want in there. Foods a big ol mess of compounds. My heart meds get recalled all the time for less acrylamide than I’d get in a flame grilled burger.
Well I’m pretty sure that drinking water treated with chloramine is far preferable to drinking untreated water, so even if it is toxic, it’s not toxic enough at current levels to merit concern.
It’s still worth investigating, because it’s good to have confirmation.
Might help to filter out the chemicals before drinking.
You can’t really “filter” out these chemicals when they’re fully dissolved in the water.
There’s always distillation, but that’s not practical at all on the scale of drinking water for cities.
We have a home distiller and use it for all our drinking water. It’s very easy to use. Highly recommend.
What brand or model?
https://www.megahomedistiller.com/collections/frontpage/products/megahome-mh943sbs-water-distiller
Made in Taiwan, too
Reverse osmosis is the other option, but it’s also not cost-effective at city scale.
Ah, good point. Forgot about that one haha.
You can for this. See my comment: https://ponder.cat/post/752896/1007500
Ah, interesting. Didn’t think it would be caught by activated carbon. Good to know, thanks.
I had thought activated charcoal could remove the chemicals. No I don’t mean city scale. I meant after the water comes out of the tap but before you drink it. City water has to be treated to not harbor too many germs.
It does for this. See: https://ponder.cat/post/752896/1007500
Definitely filter out that H2O chemical
There’s di-hydrogen monoxide in the water!
I’m also pretty sure you’re correct in saying so. I can’t recall any other treatments offhand, but there may be alternatives?