Researchers have identified a previously unknown compound in drinking water that has been present in tap water in developed countries for decades, despite high purification standards.
The discovery was made possible through the study of water purification methods, specifically chlorination, which is used to destroy most pathogens in water. However, the by-products formed during disinfection can be harmful to health. To address this issue, many countries, including the United States, have switched to using chloramine, which forms less dangerous compounds and maintains its disinfectant properties for longer periods.
After the switch to chloramine, scientists noticed that a significant amount of nitrogen from the water seemed to be dissipating into the air, leading to the discovery of an unknown substance that was difficult to detect using existing methods. This substance, which absorbed nitrogen, was dubbed the “Ghost molecule” by experts.
Advanced analytical technologies were used to identify the mysterious compound as chlornramide anion, a molecule with a negative charge that contains a chlorine atom, two nitrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The compound was recreated in the laboratory for further analysis using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance.
Subsequent testing of water samples from US water supply systems treated with chloramine revealed concentrations of up to 100 micrograms per liter of the chlornramide anion, exceeding established norms for disinfection levels. While the discovery of the compound is not entirely new, its exact composition and properties have only now been confirmed.
While most water samples analyzed showed lower levels of the chlornramide anion than permitted values, further studies on the toxicity of the substance are required for a comprehensive assessment. The sample size of 40 water samples from different regions in the United States is considered too small to fully evaluate the situation in all water supply systems across the country.