Exposures to drinking water chlorination by-products in a Russian city.

Exposures to water disinfection by-products (DBPs) via ingestion of drinking water, and dermal absorption and inhalation during showering/bathing were assessed in the city of Cherepovets, Russia, which uses heavy chlorination to disinfect organic-rich surface water. Concentrations of DBPs (mean +/- standard deviation) in tap water were the following: total trihalomethanes (THMs) 205 +/- 70 micrograms/l, five haloacetic acids (HAAs) 150 +/- 30 micrograms/l, and 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (mutagen X or MX) 160 +/- 50 ng/l. Concentrations of THMs and HAAs exceeded the corresponding US standards by a factor of 2.

Deterioration of drinking water quality in the distribution system and gastrointestinal morbidity in a Russian city.

Few studies have been conducted in Russia to assess the relationship between drinking water quality and gastrointestinal (GI) infections. In the city of Cherepovets, effluent water at the treatment plant usually meets the country's hygienic standards. To provide protection against secondary water contamination in the distribution system, concentrations of total residual chlorine in effluent water are maintained#10; at levels from 1 to 2 mg x l(-1).

Contamination of water supplies with Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia and diarrheal illness in selected Russian cities.

Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia are important agents of waterborne diarrheal illness worldwide. While giardiasis is routinely diagnosed in Russia with a chemical staining technique, data on the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis are scarce. Monitoring of the respective parasites in water supplies in Russia is very limited.