Occurrence and Distribution of Disinfection Byproducts in Domestic Wastewater Effluent, Tap Water, and Surface Water during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in China

Abstract

Intensified efforts to curb transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 might lead to an elevated concentration of disinfectants in domestic wastewater and drinking water in China, possibly resulting in the generation of numerous toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs). In this study, the occurrence and distribution of five categories of DBPs, including six trihalomethanes (THMs), nine haloacetic acids (HAAs), two haloketones, nine nitrosamines, and nine aromatic halogenated DBPs, in domestic wastewater effluent, tap water, and surface water were investigated. The results showed that the total concentration level of measured DBPs in wastewater effluents (78.3 μg/L) was higher than that in tap water (56.0 μg/L, p = 0.05), followed by surface water (8.0 μg/L, p < 0.01). Moreover, HAAs and THMs were the two most dominant categories of DBPs in wastewater effluents, tap water, and surface water, accounting for >90%, respectively. Out of the regulated DBPs, none of the wastewater effluents and tap water samples exceeded the corresponding maximum guideline values of chloroform (300 μg/L), THM4 (80 μg/L), NDMA (100 ng/L), and only 2 of 35 tap water samples (67.6 and 63.3 μg/L) exceeded the HAA5 (60 μg/L) safe limit. HAAs in wastewater effluents showed higher values of risk quotient for green algae. This study illustrates that the elevated use of disinfectants within the guidance ranges during water disinfection did not result in a significant increase in the concentration of DBPs.

Environmental impacts of the widespread use of chlorine-based disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In all cases, chlorine compounds can react with a vast range of organic and inorganic materials and other anthropogenic chemicals. This leads to the formation of DBPs in different types of aquatic systems like wastewater, surface water, and tap water due to elevated CBD application (Li et al 2021 ; Meade et al 2021 ; Paul et al 2021 ; Wang et al 2021 ).…”

Inhalation Bioaccessibility of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in PM2.5 under Various Lung Environments: Implications for Air Pollution Control during Coronavirus Disease-19 Outbreak

“… 10 With the global outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), more than 93.6 million infected cases and 2 million deaths have been reported worldwide since January 18, 2021. 12 In one recent study, 35 out of 837 (4.8%) COVID-19 survivors were observed to show symptoms of interstitial lung inflammation and obvious lung functional deficits at 4 weeks after discharge. 13 It therefore can be expected that many people may still suffer inflammatory sequelae even after recovery given the large number of COVID-19 infections worldwide.…”

Spatial assessment of tap water safety in China and associated health impacts

“…While several studies have evaluated the occurrence of DBPs in tap water, these studies were conducted mainly in local regions and cities [11][12][13] . Only a limited number of nationwide DBP surveys have been reported -in the UK 14 , the USA 15 and China 16 -approximately a decade ago.…”