Comparative Mammalian Cell Toxicity of N-DBPs and C-DBPs

In order to generate a quantitative, direct comparison amongst classes of drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs), we developed and calibrated in vitro mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays to integrate the analytical biology with the analytical chemistry of these important environmental contaminants. The generated database demonstrates the universality of the comparative toxicity of iodo- > bromo- » chloro-DBPs across different structural DBP classes and the substantially greater toxicity of nitrogen-containing DBPs (NDBPs) compared to carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs). These results are important in light of the generation of iodinated-DBPs and N-DBPs that may result from the use of alternative disinfectants.