Organic mutagens and drinking water in The Netherlands : a study on mutagenicity of organic constituents in drinking water in The Netherlands and their possible carcinogenic effects

Several mutagenic and carcinogenic organic compounds have been detected in Dutch surface waters and in drinking water prepared from these surface waters. Although the levels of these compounds in drinking- and surface water are relatively low, in general below μg per litre, it appeared that organic concentrates tested in the Ames/microsome assay, showed mutagenic activity in 50 ml surface- and 500 ml drinking water. Such a result however was not expected based on the concentration of organic mutagens identified in these waters. Therefore the conclusion had been drawn that a number of unknown o... Mehr ...