Experimental toxicological assessment of the degree of hazard of a mixture of chemical compounds migrating from materials intended for use in drinking water supply

Abstract

Introduction. Polymer materials currently used in drinking water supply practice consist of a polymer base and additional chemicals. During use, polymer materials release toxic chemicals, including additives and residual monomers. Even if all components of a mixture are present in quantities that do not individually cause the expected adverse effects, the population may be adversely affected by chronic exposure to low concentrations, which may act additively to produce greater cumulative toxicity. The article presents the results of a study of the biological effect of a mixture of chemical compounds migrating from materials intended for use in managing drinking water supply. Materials and methods. The work examined extracts from four materials offered by various companies and manufacturing countries intended for use in drinking water supply. Experimental work was carried out on non-linear white rats (males) with an initial body weight of 180–200 g. In the experiment, five groups of animals of 10 pieces each were formed. The experiment lasted for 6 months. Results. As a result of a sanitary-toxicological study, there were obtained data proving the possibility of a negative effect of a mixture of organic compounds washed out from the materials of pipes used in drinking water supply on the body of warm-blooded animals. Under experimental conditions with prolonged exposure to a mixture of organic compounds, including those unstudied in terms of hygienic conditions, general toxic and mutagenic activity of extracts from the studied samples of polymeric materials was revealed. Despite the fact that materials belonging to the same group of polymers – polyethylenes – were chosen for the experiment, the biological effect of the extracts turned out to be multidirectional. Limitations. The study was conducted on a small sample of materials currently used in the practice of domestic and drinking water supply, and a limited set of indicators studied in a chronic experiment. It is necessary to conduct extensive research on other groups of polymers. Conclusion. The toxic effect of a mixture of organic substances migrating from pipe materials on the body in a chronic experiment in animals was studied, and the possibility of developing long-term effects when consuming water based on extracts from polymeric materials was established.