In the project, researchers investigated the development, prediction and assessment of transformation products of anthropogenic trace compounds during oxidative drinking water treatment, using the case study of PSM metabolites. The developed guideline provides an important data basis for toxicological assessment.
The toxicological evaluation of transformation products from anthropogenic trace compounds gained in significance in 2006. It was possible to analytically prove the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) from the compound N,N-dimethylsulfamide (DMS) during the ozonation of drinking water. Until then, DMS was an unknown PSM metabolite of the fungicide tolylfluanid. The approval for tolylfluanid was permanently revoked in 2011, although DMS contents in the groundwater will still be significant for many years. On this basis, all relevant authorities and associations agreed to further investigate the toxicological assessment of oxidative transformation products in view of drinking water treatment and to prepare a guideline that should be taken into consideration in the approval procedure for plant protection products.
The aim of this project was to develop a trial protocol in which drinking water is doped with defined PSM metabolites and ozonated as realistically as possible. The ozonated water was then (geno)toxicologically analysed as a complete mixture with and without enrichment. Pairing realistic ozonation with toxicological test systems and the required minimum contents was a core task and challenge of the project.
Publications
O. Happel, H.-J. Brauch, C.K. Schmidt, M. Kramer, T. Grummt, E. Dölling, H.-G. Wunderlich, Bewertung von Transformationsprodukten bei der Trinkwasseraufbereitung [Assessment of transformation products during drinking water treatment], DVGW [German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water] energie|wasser-praxis, 2014, 07-08, 84-90.
O. Happel, H.-J. Brauch, C.K. Schmidt, M. Kramer, T. Grummt, E. Dölling, H.-G. Wunderlich, Bewertung von Transformationsprodukten bei der Trinkwasseraufbereitung [Assessment of transformation products during drinking water treatment]. Abschlussbericht zum Forschungsvorhaben, Veröffentlichenungen aus dem Technologiezentrum Wasser [Final report on the research project, publications from the Water Technology Centre], Volume 59, 2013, ISSN 1434-5765.
