Chlorinated drinking water linked to higher cancer risk, study finds - EHN

Chlorinating drinking water at common levels in the U.S. and E.U. may raise the risk of bladder and colorectal cancer due to toxic byproducts, according to a new global analysis.

Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Key quote:

“What we see is alarming and we need some more high quality studies.”

— Emilie Helte, study lead author, Karolinska Institutet

Why this matters:

For more than a century, chlorination has been a cornerstone of public health, virtually eliminating deadly waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid. But as science advances, concerns over the long-term health effects of chlorine byproducts — specifically trihalomethanes — are becoming harder to ignore. A new study suggests that even at levels well below current regulatory limits, these byproducts may increase cancer risks, raising questions about the adequacy of existing water safety standards. Given that millions rely on chlorinated water, the findings could have broad implications for public health.

Related: There are concerning carcinogens in Western Pennsylvania water