| 7 yd.
Ss 142 Jp

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305

   
  
   

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY, COMMUNITY
AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

Area Code 415
497-0 =

16 January 1985 5546

  

JANIS 1985

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Dear Josh:

Remembering your interest in chlorine toxicity and the effects of
water disinfection on human health, I report to you:

There is increasing use of chloramine in place of chlorine in
California, particularly in southern California, to minimize the
production of trihdlomethanes. Questions have (quite properly)
been raised concerning the effects in persons undergoing hemo-
dialysis. There have also been questions about toxicity to the
public, in view of the observation that goldfish that had survived
in chlorinated tapwater are killed by the chloraminated water. The
obvious explanation in both instances is that chloramine is more
persistent, and a higher concentration of this strong oxidizer is
reaching the household faucets. It is difficult, however, for public
health officers to explain why water that kills goldfish is good
for you, so questions are referred to the State Department of Health
Services, and that's where I come in as a consultant.

It appears that except for a few reports about the hemodialysis
problem and the work done by you and Dr. Shih, there is very little
information about the toxicology of chloramine; it has been used
for a long time, and has been treated as if it were safe. Medline
and Toxline searches have not been very helpful. Yetsreday I did
some burrowing in Citation Index and found some leads that will
take me to the Engineering Library.

I think this may interest you, and I must confess that I also
expect that you will have had some thoughts on the subject that
might be helpful to me.

With cordial regards,

IN

Rodney R. MD MPH
Professor of Preventive
Medicine, Emeritus