Integrating Occurrence and Formation, Exposure, Toxicity and Epidemiology

Several epidemiologic studies have indicated that there may be a risk of cancer from ingestion of chlorinated tap water. However, to-date, the health effects observed in single-chemical animal toxicity studies (primarily liver cancer) have not been able to explain the effects observed in the human epidemiologic studies (primarily bladder cancer). More recent epidemiologic studies have focused on reproductive and developmental effects. And, although there have been associations observed between chlorinated tap water and these effects, it is not known which chemicals/disinfection by-products (DBPs) in the water may be responsible. Also, because previous toxicological research has focused on single chemical testing, it is not known how the complex mixture of DBPs (typically more than 300 chemicals) affects the overall toxicity and human health risk assessments (are the effects additive or non-additive?).

The aim of this conference is to have the latest DBP occurrence and formation, exposure, toxicity, and epidemiology research presented to continue the dialog between chemists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and engineers in this area, and integrate epidemiologic, toxicology, exposure, and occurrence and formation studies so that this important human exposure issue may be solved.