ABSTRACT
Several authors have reported that the presence of THMs in potable water raises the risk of urinary, bladder, and colon cancer. They also cause reproductive defects (WHO 2005, Wang et al. 2007), and low birth weight, and cleft, cardiac and central nervous system defects (Lee et al. 2006). The concentration of trihalomethanes in potable water depends on the natural organic matter concentration in the disinfected water, the chlorine dose, pH, temperature, and contact time. THMs formation is a long process, this is why THMs concentration cannot be measured just after disinfection. It is necessary to observe the THMs formation after some time has elapsed.
