Brominated analogues of MX (3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone) in chlorinated drinking water

Several chlorinated drinking water samples were analyzed for the concentrations of a strong mutagen MX (3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone) and its brominated analogues, BMX-1 (3-chloro-4(bromochloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone), BMX-2 (3-chloro-4-(dibromomethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)furanone) and BMX-3 (3-bromo-4-(dibromomethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone). The BMXs were present in chlorinated waters in concentrations comparable to that of MX. The total contribution of MX and BMXs to total mutagenic activity was between 19.1 to 27.6%. The ratios of the contribution from all BMXs to that from MX varied from 0.30:l to 12:1. Good correlations were observed between the ratio of MX or BMXs to total MX+BMXs and the ratio of trihalomethane components to total trihalomethanes.