U of A Researchers identify byproduct in drinking water systems [Video]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An international team of researchers from the United States and Switzerland has identified a previously unknown compound found in chloraminated drinking water.

According to a University of Arkansas press release, inorganic chloramines are commonly used to disinfect drinking water to safeguard public health from diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. Civil engineer Dr. Julian Fairey has researched drinking water disinfectant chemistry and says more than 113 million people in the United States alone drink chloraminated water.

“I’ve always been interested in things that could impact human health, public health. And so, you know, our water is something that’s always changing,” Dr. Fairey said.

Dr. Fairey explained that since the 80s, researchers couldn’t identify a byproduct of chloramine disinfectant decomposing. But, through 10 years of studies of nitrosamines, compounds that Dr. Fairey says …