Health Risk of DBPs

Human is exposed to disinfection byproducts (DBPs) everyday through the disinfected drinking water. The potential health risk of exposure to DBPs has been an increasing global concern in field of drinking water safety. In this chapter, we reported the internal levels of DBP exposures in human’s exhaled air, blood, and urine, indicating widespread DBP exposures across populations. Furthermore, we summarized human evidence on exposure to DBPs associated with cancer risks and reproductive and developmental outcomes, as well as other adverse health outcomes (e.g., asthma). Overall, epidemiological studies support the association between exposure to DBPs and bladder cancer risk; however, no consistent relationships are observed for colon, rectal, and other cancers. Existing epidemiological evidence remains insufficient to support the associations of DBP exposures with adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, but emerging human studies relying on blood and urinary biomarkers have shown that DBP exposures are associated with declined semen quality, impaired ovarian function, and adverse birth outcomes. Human evidence concerning other adverse health outcomes is limited and inconclusive.