Health Information
Chloramine has a long, proven record as a safe and effective
disinfection method for treating drinking water.
According to the EPA, chloraminated water is
safe for all everyday uses, including drinking, bathing and
cooking. It has been used safely in the U.S., Canada and Great
Britain for more than 90 years. Other nearby cities such as
Oklahoma City, Sand Springs, Lawton, Norman, Denver, Dallas and
Fort Worth have used chloramine for decades to treat their
water.
In addition, the
EPA recognizes chloramine as a safe disinfectant and an
effective way to reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts
(DBPs), which have been linked to certain forms of cancer.
Kidney Dialysis Patients
Chloramine, like chlorine, must be removed from the water before
it can be used in kidney dialysis machines.
Kidney dialysis patients should contact their physician or local
kidney dialysis center for guidance on modifications to dialysis
machines and procedures. Medical centers that perform dialysis are
responsible for purifying the water that enters the dialysis
machines.
Kidney dialysis patients can still bathe, drink and cook with
chloraminated water. The digestive process neutralizes the
chloramines before they reach the bloodstream. It's only when water
interacts directly in the blood stream, as in dialysis, that
chloramines must be removed.
Health Concerns by Select Advocacy Groups
The EPA states that water disinfected with chloramine that meets
regulatory standards
has no known or anticipated adverse health effects, including
skin problems,
breathing problems,
digestive problems or
cancers.
Because a handful of concerns have been raised over the years by
consumer advocacy groups regarding the health effects of chloramine
consumption, the City of Tulsa wants to address these issues as
openly as possible. In general:
- No current information exists in medical literature linking
chloramine in drinking or bathing water to health concerns
raised.
- There is the possibility that individuals have specific
sensitivities to various chemicals in the environment; there is no
evidence that health effects occur on the population level as a
result of chlorine or chloramines.
Addressing Skin Irritation Concerns:
- The prevalence of dermatitis (skin irritation) in the general
population is 12%. Skin problems may be caused by multiple factors,
including: soaps, detergent, environmental conditions and bacteria
growing in hot water heaters when temperature is too low.
- Monochloramine, the form of chloramine that will be used as a
disinfectant in Tulsa's water distribution system, has not been
shown to be a cause or contribute to reported skin problems.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)'s
investigation of reports of monochloramine-related skin
problems associated with drinking water use was unable to draw
any conclusions about monochloramine and health effects.
- Concerns expressed by individuals may be based on
misinterpretation of chemistry and anecdotal health data available
on the Internet for concentrated chemicals.
Addressing Inhalation Concerns:
- Monochloramine is highly soluble and loss to evaporation is
minimal, based on literature and primary research of third-party
municipalities.
- Swimming pools tend to have a higher load of ammonia from urine
and sweat. Chlorine and trichloramine are
potential irritants in improperly operated pools, especially indoor
pools.
- Concerns expressed by individuals may be based on
misinterpretation of chemistry and anecdotal health data available
on the internet for concentrated chemicals
As with any health issue, people with specific health concerns
should discuss these with their doctors. Physicians may contact the
City of Tulsa or the Tulsa City-County Health Department to discuss
any public health concerns.
As always, the City of Tulsa will closely monitor its ongoing
water treatment process and will continue to monitor ongoing
research regarding the use of chloramines.
