The occurrence of the herbicide dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionate) in potable water as a disinfection by-product?

Journal of Environmental Monitoring Pub Date: 2010-12-17 DOI: 10.1039/C0EM00475H

Abstract

Salts of 2,2-dichloropropionic acid, such as dalapon, are well known as herbicides and are regulated as such in potable water in Australia and elsewhere. It is also an identified disinfection by-product (DBP), but little is known about the compound's formation and typical levels from this source. This work presents results from a sampling campaign where 2,2-dichloropropionate was found at levels between 0.1 and 0.5 μg l?1 in potable water samples from a major treatment plant in South East Queensland, Australia. However, levels were below the reporting limit (0.01 μg l?1) in the immediate source water for the plant. Also, temporal trends in 2,2-dichloropropionate observed in treated water during sampling mirrored those of trihalomethanes albeit at much lower concentrations, suggesting that the occurrence is due to in situ formation as a DBP. This could present a regulatory dilemma in some jurisdictions.

Graphical abstract: The occurrence of the herbicide dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionate) in potable water as a disinfection by-product
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