Seasonal and spatial variation in total trihalomethane formation potential in groundwater in Tulkarm and Hebron, Palestine
Date
2019-11-27
Authors
Kanan, Amer
Qurie, Mohannad
Awad, Loay
Qudaimat, Lamis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Water disinfection using processes such as chlorination is required to kill bacteria and harmful biological components.
During chlorination, organic components in water react with chlorine, forming harmful disinfection by-products such as
trihalomethanes (THMs). These compounds are very harmful to humans, animals, and plants. Thus, the concentration of
these substances in groundwater as well as the seasonal variation in this concentration are of immense interest to scientists.
A headspace method was used to analyze trihalomethanes (THMs) using an Agilent 6890N GC/MS. Five-milliliter water
samples were employed in this analysis. Separation was performed on a J&W-VRX column. A selected ion monitoring (SIM)
mode that complied with US EPA method no. 501 was developed for the detection of four THM species. Quantification
and method validation were performed using external standard calibration. The total trihalomethane formation potentials
(TTHMFPs) in four groundwater wells in the summer and the winter were found to be below the maximum limits specified
by environmental agencies. Seasonal variations were more pronounced for the formation of chloroform (CF), which was
the dominant THM species formed. The fraction of the TTHMFP that was due to CF increased in the winter in groundwater
samples from the Anabta (2), Anabta (3), and Al Rehya wells, whereas the fraction of the TTHMFP that was due to CF was
almost the same in summer (43.2%) and in winter (40.3%) in the groundwater samples from the Al Fawar well. These findings
are important for the appropriate regulation of THM levels and for achieving a better understanding of environmental
public health and epidemiological issues concerning disinfection by-products in Palestine.
Description
Keywords
Seasonal , Spatial , Groundwater wells , Trihalomethanes (THMs) , Formation potential (FP)