Volatile Halocarbon Compounds and Trihalomethane in Drinking water : Mineral water and tap water

It is generally believed that mineral water is sanitary and healthy to drink. We measured volatile halocarbon compounds (VHCs) in several samples of commercially sold mineral water, and total trihalomethanes (T-THM) in tap water, which was collected from 10 points in 3 different regions of Yamaguchi prefecture. We also investigated change in the content of these compounds in drinking water which had been stored in four different conditions. We obtained the following results : 1. A small volume of VHCs was detected in 20 of 22 samples of mineral water collected both from various districts in Japan and from foreign countries, i. e., France, the U.S.A. and Norway. 2. T-THM was detected in tap water collected in 3 regions of Yamaguchi prefecture, though there are some regional difference in amount. The highest volume of T-THM was observed in the tap water collectted from the Setouchi area. 3. The amount of T-THM gradually increased in water which was preserved at room temperature and at 4ｰC. Meanwhile, T-THM remained at an unchanged low level in water which was boiled and preserved for 15 days. A sample of water boiled for 10 minutes showed only a trace of T-THM.

クロロホルム

トリハロメタン

低沸点ハロゲン化炭化水素

水道水

ミネラルウォーター