A new study reveals that roughly one-third of U.S. residents have been drinking tap water containing a previously unidentified chemical byproduct, chloronitramide anion, which forms when water is treated with chloramine. Chloramine, a compound made by mixing chlorine and ammonia, is commonly used in municipal water treatment to disinfect water by killing bacteria and viruses.
While the existence of this byproduct was known for about 40 years, advancements in analysis techniques have only now allowed scientists to identify its structure. The chemical has been detected in water samples from 40 systems across seven U.S. states. Although researchers have no definitive proof of its toxicity, they are concerned because the compound shares characteristics with other harmful substances. Its widespread presence in chloramine-treated water — used by 113 million Americans — warrants further investigation.
Chloramine has been favored over chlorine in water treatment to reduce the formation of harmful byproducts like those linked to bladder cancer. However, the discovery of chloronitramide anion raises new concerns about the long-term safety of water disinfectants. While the potential dangers of this compound remain unknown, researchers are now equipped to explore its toxicity, with the goal of understanding its possible health risks. The study, published in Science, emphasizes the need for further research to assess the public health implications of this newly identified substance.
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