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The Three Evil Tee's

By David F. Walling

The purpose of this article is to clear up some misconceptions about trihalomethanes, tetrachloeoethylene and trichloroethylene. My water treatment customers for years have asked me about potential health risks of these three contaminants. It has always been a challenge to explain to anyone the problems these contaminants add to point of use and point of entry water treatment systems. Because two of them sound very similar and all of them poses a serious threat to the health of this country. I believe that anyone who uses tap water for drinking should know about the risks that are involved when they are exposed to these contaminants. The EPA currently tracks some 80 different contaminants that may or may not be found in the drinking water in the United States. As testing methods improve than more stringent regulations may follow.

Trihalomethanes (THM)
This poses one of the largest threats to populations of people who reside in municipalities that use primarily surface water treated with chlorine. Trihalomethanes (THM's) are the byproducts of chlorine's use in treating drinking water, what is left of the chlorine after it kills bacteria reacts with the dead organic content in the water. Portions of the residual become trihalomethanes. Chloroform is the best known example. THM's cause 10,000 cases of colon and bladder cancer annually. The chlorine industry strenuously opposes closer regulation of THM's. The detected increases of THM's presence in numerous large-scale water treatment systems have sparked the use of chlorimine for disinfecting. Chlorimines residual does not react with the remaining dead organic content like chlorine. The result is less THM's present in the finished drinking water. One drawback to the use of chlorimine is that it needs a longer contact time with granular activated carbon (GAC) filters to be removed from the water. This posed a huge problem to the kidney dialysis industry that uses treated tap water for process makeup water. Because many facilities would use water treated with GAC filtration sized for chlorine removal. The longer contact time for the removal chlorimine required resizing of pretreatment.

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
This is used primarily in the textile industry, and as a component of aerosol dry-cleaning products. Major releases of tetrachloroethylene to air and water are from dry cleaning and industrial metal cleaning or finishing. Water pollution can occur from tetrachloroethylene penetrating the walls of some types of pipelines used for water distribution. From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemical Release Inventory, tetrachloroethylene releases to land and water totaled over 1 million lbs. These releases were primarily from the alkali and chlorine industries that use it to make other chemicals. The largest releases occurred in Louisiana and South Carolina. PCE released to soil will readily evaporate or may leach slowly to the groundwater where the break down by soil microbes is slow. PCE released to water will primarily evaporate and has little potential for accumulating in aquatic life. Continued exposure over many years could leave you with liver damage and you may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Granular activated carbon filters will absorb tetrachloroethylene but you should follow the manufacturer recommended service intervals for the filter. Follow up with testing to make sure the filter you have is doing a good job of absorbing the contaminant. The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or at work. Here is a list of trade names and synonyms: Ethylene tetrachloride Perchloroethylene PCE Ankilostin Didakene Fedal-un Nema Perclene Persec Tetlen Tetracap Tetraleno Tetropil Antisal 1 Dow-per Perawin Perchlor Percosolv Perk Perklone Tetraguer Tetralex Tetravec

Trichloroethylene (TCE)
The greatest use of trichloroethylene is to remove grease from fabricated metal parts. Major environmental releases of trichloroethylene are due to air emissions from metal degreasing plants. Wastewater from metal finishing, paint and ink formulation, electrical/electronic components, and rubber processing industries also may contain trichloroethylene. Production of trichloroethylene has increased from just over 260,000 lbs. in 1981 to 320 million lbs. in 1991. From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxins Release Inventory, trichloroethylene releases to water and land totaled over 291,000 lbs. These releases were primarily from the steel pipe and tube manufacturing industries. The largest releases occurred in Pennsylvania and Illinois. The largest direct releases to water occurred in West Virginia. Water treatment dealers in several states report few calls regarding the contaminant. However, TCE has been detected at levels higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard of 5 parts per billion (ppb) in 25 states since 1988. If released to water, it will quickly evaporate. It has only a moderate potential to accumulate in aquatic life. Trichloroethylene released to soil will either evaporate or leach into ground water. People who drink water containing trichloroethylene over many years could experience problems with their liver and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Granular activated carbon filters will absorb trichloroethylene but you should follow the manufacturer recommended service intervals for the filter. Follow up with testing to make sure the filter you have is doing a good job of absorbing the contaminant. Here is a list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or work. Here is a list of trade names and synonyms: 1,1,2-Trichloroethylene Acetylene trichloroethylene Algylen Anameth Benzinol Chlorilen CirCosolv Germalgene Lethurin Perm-a-chlor Petzinol Philex TRI-Plus M Vitran

It is not dificult to find out about contamination in your area just go to your local library and do an article search of your local newspaper. Use the contaminants in this article as the keywords. You can also call your city water treatment facility and ask to see a currant water analysis. If you are concerned that these contaminants are in your drinking water than I would suggest getting your water at home tested for these contaminants immediately. One such water testing company can be found on the internet at h2otest.com/index.html
after you get your results you can go out and find the best treatment method that suites your particular water treatment problem. Technology is on your side but you should educate yourself about the tap water in your area this will help you in your decision.

For more information, please contact R/O CONN at (602) 432-5402 or fax (602) 942-1451. Or you can E-mail us at roinfo@roconn.com.

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