Occurrence and formation potential of nitrosamines in river water and ground water along the Songhua River, China

Abstract

The presence of mutagenic and carcinogenic nitrosamines in water is of great concern. In this study, seven nitrosamines including N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPyr), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPip), N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA), and N-nitrosodi-n-butyl-amine (NDBA) were investigated in river water and ground water samples collected from 5 representative cities (Jilin, Songyuan, Harbin, Jiamusi and Tongjiang) along the Songhua River. The total concentrations of nitrosamines in ground water were n.d. (not detected) to 60.8ng/L, NDMA was the most frequently detected nitrosamines in ground water, followed by NDEA and NPip. Relatively high detected frequency and concentrations of NDMA were also observed in river water samples, and the total nitrosamines' concentration at midstream is always higher than that at upstream and downstream. After 24hr chlorination, concentration of NDMA, NDBA was obviously increased but NDEA was reduced. Furthermore, UV₂₅₄ showed a better relationship with NDMA-FP rather than dissolved organic carbon (DOC), NH₄-N, and TDN.

Keywords: Ground water; Nitrosamine; Songhua River.