ABSTRACT
Haloacetic acids are an important class of disinfection by-products that have been linked to bladder, kidney, and rectal cancers in human. ese substances are produced along with a variety of other halogenated organic compounds during chlorination of natural waters. Because of their potential health e ects and widespread occurrences, these substances are regulated in drinking water in the United States. e term haloacetic acids refer to the halogenated compounds of acetic acid, CH3COOH, in which the H atom(s) of the methyl group (–CH3) are replaced by one or more Cl or Br atom(s). Some common haloacetic acids found in the chlorinated waters include monochloroacetic acid (MCA), ClCH2COOH; monobromoacetic acid (MBA), BrCH2COOH; dichloroacetic acid (DCA), Cl2CHCOOH; bromochloroacetic acid (BCA), BrClCHCOOH; trichloroacetic acid (TCA), Cl3CCOOH; dibromoacetic acid (DBA), Br2CHCOOH; bromodichloro acetic acid (BDCA), BrCl2CCOOH; dibromochloroacetic acid (DBCA), Br2ClCCOOH; and tribromoacetic acid (TBA), Br3CCOOH.
