Determination of Trihalomethanes

Trihalomethanes are a group of volatile organic compounds classified as byproducts of aquatic disinfection processes. It occurs when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic substances during chlorination of water. It was first discovered by Rook in 1974.

The term trihalomethanes is used to refer to compounds containing only chlorine or bromide. It is one of the most commonly detected in chlorinated water. They can be listed as chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.

Although chlorination provides many advantages, especially in drinking water, Trihalomethanes pose a health problem. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has obtained sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals and classified it as Group 2B.

For this reason, the determination of Trihalomethanes can be carried out in various waters, especially drinking water.