Seasonal variations in the household exposures of Korean housewives to volatile tap water disinfection by-products

Sci Total Environ. 2008 Sep 15;403(1-3):59-67. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.05.007. Epub 2008 Jun 20.

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare housewives' winter and summer exposures to volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs) in chlorinated tap water. A total of 60 households were visited for this purpose: 27 in winter and 33 in summer. Each subject was given a questionnaire regarding general tap water use, household ventilation time, and activities related to water use. Tap water, household air, and exhaled breath samples were also collected during the visits. All of the subjects answered that they consumed tap water after either thermal treatment or purification through filtration systems. A longer ventilation time in winter than in summer resulted in a higher inhalation exposure for housewives during that season. Estimated chronic daily intakes calculated for winter and summer showed that in winter, the greatest risk at home is inhalation exposure while resting at home, whereas in summer, it is showering. In both seasons, the ingestion route can be discounted, because tap water is processed before consumption, eliminating the volatile DBPs. From this study, it is evident that the inhalation of household air while resting at home cannot be ignored in risk assessment. Moreover, the fact that water is normally boiled or filtered before use should also be considered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Chlorine Compounds / analysis
  • Disinfectants / analysis*
  • Drinking
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis*
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inhalation Exposure / analysis
  • Inhalation Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Korea
  • Seasons*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Volatilization
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • Water Purification / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Chlorine Compounds
  • Disinfectants
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical