Chloronitramide anion is a decomposition product of inorganic chloramines

Science. 2024 Nov 22;386(6724):882-887. doi: 10.1126/science.adk6749. Epub 2024 Nov 21.

Abstract

Inorganic chloramines are commonly used drinking water disinfectants intended to safeguard public health and curb regulated disinfection by-product formation. However, inorganic chloramines themselves produce by-products that are poorly characterized. We report chloronitramide anion (Cl-N-NO2-) as a previously unidentified end product of inorganic chloramine decomposition. Analysis of chloraminated US drinking waters found Cl-N-NO2- in all samples tested (n = 40), with a median concentration of 23 micrograms per liter and first and third quartiles of 1.3 and 92 micrograms per liter, respectively. Cl-N-NO2- warrants occurrence and toxicity studies in chloraminated water systems that serve more than 113 million people in the US alone.

MeSH terms

  • Anions* / chemistry
  • Chloramines* / chemistry
  • Disinfectants* / chemistry
  • Drinking Water* / chemistry

Substances

  • Chloramines
  • Anions
  • Drinking Water
  • Disinfectants