AWWA JAW53373

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogen known to be present in variousfoods and industrial products. The US Environmental Protection Agency hasestablished a 10(-6) cancer risk level for NDMA of 0.7 ng/l. NDMA has been foundin the effluents of various water and wastewater plants, but its formationmechanism is not yet understood. This study evaluated NDMA formation duringvarious water and wastewater treatment processes including chlorination andchloramination, ozonation, and ion exchange. On the basis of the limited resultsobtained in this study, NDMA appears to be a byproduct of the chloramination ofwater and wastewater, with the level of NDMA formed directly related to thechloramine dose. In the waters tested, NDMA did not form on contact with freechlorine or ozone. Contact of one water with typical levels of amine-basedpolymer did not form any measurable NDMA levels (<2 ng/L). Batch testing wasconducted with four strong-base anion exchange resins contacted with untreatedgroundwater and with buffered deionized water. Results showed that some resinsmight leach or form NDMA and the level of NDMA produced is a function of thechemical functional group on the surface of the resin. Includes 19 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. 93 - No. 2

Published:

02/01/2001

Number of Pages:

8

File Size:

1 file , 200 KB