MUTAGENIC ACTIVITY IN DRINKING WATER AND HUMIC WATER AFTER CHLORINE TREATMENT
Mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA98 was determined for chlorinated drinking water, purified from raw water with a high content of humic material, and for a natural humic water treated with chlorine. A remarkably high activity was found for XAD-4/8 concentrates of acid water samples compared to neutral samples in tests performed without enzymatic activation (S9mix). Incorporation of S9mix seemed to destroy the activity. The similarity in mutagenic response to drinking water and chlorine treated humic water concentrates indicates that mutagenic compounds are formed by chlorination of humic material. Acid concentrates of chlorine treated humic water might be a suitable material for fractionation and identification of organic mutagens.