Good afternoon, Stuart, and thank you for your inquiry.

Due to the nature of the testing and low quantities of THM's one could expect to find in drinking water, not simple at-home test kit for THM's exists -- that we know of. Testing for THM's takes place in a laboratory environment.

Companies like National Testing Laboratories offer mail-in water testing services that include testing for THM's and other disinfection byproducts. You can find links to various water testing packages from National Testing Laboratories on the following page:

• 'WaterCheck Water' Test Kits by National Testing Laboratories

FYI: As a general rule it takes about 10 business days to get test results back from NTL (National Testing Labs) and the cost of each testing package depends upon the number of different water quality parameters the kit contains.

OK, so where do THM's come from?

Trihalomethanes (THM's) fall into a classification of drinking water contaminants known as disinfection byproducts, or DBP's.  Contaminants of this nature form when disinfectants such as chlorine get added to water that contains organic matter.

As the chlorine 'goes to work' on the organic matter and sets about breaking it down, as part of the chemical interaction between the organic matter and chlorine disinfection byproducts get created.

Scientists and water experts now believe that prolonged exposure to disinfection byproducts possibly increases people's risk of developing various types of cancers.

What removes or reduces levels of THM's in drinking water?

For information on water filtration systems capable of eliminating harmful levels of THM's, we suggest taking a look at water filtration options that contain Granular Activated Carbon (often abbreviated as GAC).  You can find a number of different filter brands and types on the following sites: FilterWater.Com, FiltersFast.Com and Filter-Drinking-Water.Com.

One particular disinfection byproduct of, trihalomethanes (often abbreviated as THM’s or TTHM’s), has gained enough notoriety that companies like PUR have started certifying some of their products to NSF/ANSI Standards for the reduction of trihalomethanes in drinking water.

Below you will find a list of several PUR water filtration products that have tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 (Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects) for the reduction of TTHM’s and other unwanted drinking water contaminants:

• PUR CR-6000 Filtered Water Pitcher
• PUR CR-6000C Filtered Water Pitcher with LED Light
• PUR Faucet Mount Filter 3-Stage – Flavor Options
• PUR Faucet Mount Filter 3-Stage Horizontal Chrome
• PUR Faucet Mount Filter System 3-Stage Chrome

• PUR Faucet Mount Filter System 2-Stage White

For those unfamiliar with how trihalomethanes get into drinking water, they get created when free chlorine molecules attack, neutralize and become entangled with a biological contaminant. That process chain of events converts free chlorine into combined chlorine and in the process disinfection byproducts get created.

What harm can trihalomethanes in drinking water cause?

Four different trihalomethanes can form as a result of chlorination: Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, and Bromoform. The United States Environmental Protection has found that excessive exposure to these compounds has resulted laboratory rats developing cancer.

While many scientists may disagree on the exactly how much exposure to each compound constitutes overexposure, we think it wise to keep tabs on your local water treatment system’s track record of trihalomethane level management (data available in annual reports) and if deemed necessary, install an NSF certified water treatment system capable of reducing trhalomethane levels.

I have 2 questions that I am not finding answers to on this blog. I could be overlooking the answers. 1) is there a home test kit for THM’s and HAA5? 2) I purchased some property & I would like to test a pond on the property for contaminates other than the drinking water quality home test kit variables such as fossil fuel/petroleum contamination and other pollutants.

For those who do not know, THM’s stands for trihalomethanes and HAA5 stands for haloacetic acid. Both compounds fall in the category of disinfection byproducts, or chemical products created when a disinfectant acts on a contaminant in water. In recent years health officials have determined that exposure to these compounds can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.

With regard to KC’s question about THM and HAA5 test kits, we do not know of any at-home drinking water test kits for these compounds. Testing for disinfection byproduct levels requires a laboratory environment.

If you wish to test for these two compounds you will have to use a kit that you mail into a certified drinking water testing laboratory such as National Testing Laboratories. Within about (2) two weeks after receiving your water they will issue a lab report telling you all sorts of interesting things about your water — including how many disinfection byproducts your water contains, if it has any at all.

National Testing Laboratories offers several different testing options, but their most popular water testing option provides sample submitters with analysis of their water for a total of 83 different water quality parameters:

• Bacteria (presence/absence for coliform and E.coli),
• (19) heavy metals and minerals,
• (6) other inorganic chemicals,
• (5) physical characteristics,
• (4) trihalomethanes and
• (47) volatile organic chemicals.

Worried about other things such as pesticides, herbicides and PCB’s? National Testing Laboratories offers a water testing option that includes all of the above tests plus an an additional check for (20) pesticides, herbicides and PCB’s. They gave it a really long name, WaterCheck with Pesticides Laboratory Analysis Water Testing Kit, and it test for a total of 97 different water quality parameters.

“Drinking or even showering in tap water can double the risk of having deformed children,” says study.

Drinking tap water while pregnant may double the risk of serious heart or brain defects in the unborn child, research suggests.

A study of almost 400,000 babies found a clear link between chemicals formed during chlorination and the occurrence of a trio of birth defects.

Drinking water, showers, swimming pools and even the steam from a boiling kettle can all contain the problem chemicals called trihalomethanes, or THMs, the researchers said.

While the study was carried out in Taiwan, it is thought up to one in six British homes is exposed to levels even higher than those found to cause concern, with concentrations tending to be particularly high in the spring and autumn.

The researchers stressed it would be impractical for pregnant women to avoid tap water and said the onus was instead on the use of disinfection methods which limit levels of the chemicals.

The Birmingham University study compared details of birth defects with the level of THMs in tap water.

The analysis of almost 400,000 babies showed those born into regions where levels were around 80 per cent more likely to have a hole-in-the-heart defect and more than 50 per cent more likely to have a cleft palate.

Their odds of suffering anencephalus – a condition that causes much of the brain, skull and scalp to be missing – were almost doubled, the journal Environmental Health reports.

While birth defects are rare – occurring in about 2 per cent of births – the three flagged up in the study are among the most common.

It is thought the chemicals may harm the unborn baby directly. Alternatively they may damage the woman’s eggs. Although the study did not prove that the chemicals caused the birth defects, it is not the first to make the link.

Researcher Professor Jouni Jaakkola said: ‘Our findings don’t just add to the evidence that water chlorination may cause birth defects, but suggest that exposure to chlorination byproducts may be responsible for some specific and common defects.

THMs are the products of a chemical reaction between chlorine and organic compounds common in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

The amount of THMs made during chlorination vary according to where the water comes from and the disinfection process, meaning highly chlorinated water does not necessarily have the highest levels.

Home water filters may not be entirely effective at removing the chemicals and bottled water may also be tainted.

Professor Jaakkola said the solution was for water companies to use disinfection procedures that keep the production of THMs to a minimum.

He said: ‘Water disinfection has an important purpose in reducing microbial load and reducing acute gastro-intestinal infections.

‘Some have claimed it is the best public health measure ever introduced.

‘We are talking about rare health effects and a modest risk increase.

‘I don’t suggest stopping using tap water but we have to be conscious that at population level some risks may be related to increased levels.’

The Drinking Water Inspectorate, which is tasked by the Government to monitor the safety of tap water, said its own, larger-scale research had failed to find a link between THMs and birth defects.

Principal inspector Sue Pennison said: ‘Obviously we will review this research, engage our health expert colleagues, and look to see if it means we need to do anything more. But there’s no reason for people to be worried.

‘Chlorination is reliable and has been used for centuries. The only reason diseases like cholera and typhoid are not in our water supply is because of chlorination.’

The water industry trade body, Water UK, said it would consider the findings but chlorination in the UK meets World Health Organisation guidelines. ( source )

Testing for Disinfection Byproducts?

There are no ‘simple’ ways to test for disinfectionm byproducts (DBP’s), but homeowners can find out if the water supplied by their public water systems possibly contains disinfection byproducts by using a test kit like the WaterWorks^TM Free and Total Chlorine Test Kit. See below:

WaterWorks^TM 2 Free and Total Chlorine

The test strips above have two pads: 1 for measuring Free Chlorine Residual and 1 for measuring Total Chlorine Residual.

• No Color on Either Pad: This typically means the water contains no chlorine at all. If on a residential water system, a person may want to re-test and/or consult your local water authority. Please note, though, that the absence of free and total chlorine does NOT necessarily mean the water does not contain disinfection byproducts. A possibility exists that all of the chlorine (or chloramines) added at the water treatment plant have left the water before getting to where it was drawn for testing.
• Color on Both Pads: This means both free and total chlorine exist in the sample water and a possibility exists that the water also contains disinfection byproducts.
• Color on Free Chlorine Pad Only: This should not ever happen because the total chlorine concentration represents the sum of the free chlorine plus the combined chlorine in the water. You cannot have free chlorine registering w/o it also registering as part the total chlorine concentration.
• Color on Total Chlorine Pad Only: If the public water system uses a chlorine/ammonia based disinfectant system then the water will more than likely NOT contain disinfection byproducts. If, however, the public water system uses a free chlorine residual as its disinfectant, then a good chance exists that the water contains disinfection byproducts.

Don’t forget that you can always find out definitively whether or not your tap water contains disinfection byproducts by simply calling your local water company and asking questions. As a general rule, the law requires them to divulge that sort of information upon request to anyone who asks.

Byproducts of the chemical reaction between the ‘bad’ components and the oxidizers form each time one of those ‘bad’ components gets eliminated and we call the disinfection byproducts. See below for a list of the ones listed in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Disinfection ByProducts along with their MCL’s (Maximum Contaminat Levels) and potential hazards to humans:

• Bromate — Associated with an increased risk of cancer. Maximum Contaminant Level: 0.01 mg/L
• Chlorite — Associated with Anemia; infants and young children: nervous system effects. Maximum Contaminant Level: 1.0 mg/L
• Haloacetic acids (HAA5) — Associated with an increased risk of cancer. Maximum Contaminant Level: 0.06 mg/L
• Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) — Associated with liver, kidney or central nervous system problems; increased risk of cancer. Maximum Contaminant Level: 0.08 mg/L