Nefarious or Salubrious? “Chlorine” is often not thought well upon in environmental contexts. Indeed, the previous Focus Issue on PCBs) promulgates such an association. Yet Cl-containing molecules (including Cl2, NaOCl, ClO2) can be greatly credited with providing clean and healthy living to many. Waterborne diseases have been made rarities in regions that deliver water via a Cl-treated distribution infrastructure (both tap and bottle end points). The daily threat posed by untreated water is, for example, made glaringly clear by Pickering et al. in this issue(Environ Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es903524m). Cl atoms are added to potable water (an aqueous mix of electrolytes and dissolved organic matter [DOM]) using simple molecules such as those noted above. However the fervent reactivity of halogens makes for a dizzying array of products upon encountering, especially, DOM. Many papers and books have interrogated the prevalence and nature of (largely) organochlorines known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs); some have been shown to be toxic if not mutagenic, teratogenic, and/or carcinogenic. In this issue, some of this exotic chemistry is discussed in Sivey et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es9038903); see the news coverage by Steven Powell (Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es100800t); the potential bioactivity of DBPs is probed by Luilo and Cabaniss (Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es903164d). That DBPs may be both ingested and/or inhaled from treated water has some concerned at home (e.g., filtration devices; letting tap water stand before using it for house plants). Ironically the one place most associated with Cl treatment is also associated with great healthiness: swimming pools. Granted, few (purposely) drink swimming pool water, but the paradox of willful immersion in a solution containing DBPs so as to glean the benefits of exercise is confronted by this issue’s cover article by LaKind et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es903241k).
10.1021/es101027k
2010 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 04/29/2010
Looking to alternatives, some researchers have suggested that biotechnology may help to curtail chemical treatment of drinking water. The use of bacteriophages and glycolic acid to knock back biofilms in clogged well pipes is presented by Gino et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol. 10.1021/es903703v). Clearly, much important work on this topic remains: ES&T thus continues to welcome quality papers on water quality and the many qualities of Cl-molecules and other dissolved species of interest.
Other Notes In the print version of the In the print version of the April 1, 2010 Managing Editor’s Comment (MEC)(Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es100677k), the surname of the lead author (Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/ es903777s) was misspelled: the text should read Delinsky et al. as it does in the electronic version, apologies for the error. In a postscript to the March 15, 2010 MEC, the debut of a joint collection of published papers in ES&T and JACS on Harnessing Energy for a Sustainable World was announced. At ES&T, we continue to explore opportunities for communication afforded by the web such as these multijournal “virtual issues”. Starting in May, look for video content concerning the 2009 Best Papers to appear on our website.
Darcy J. Gentleman Managing Editor
[email protected] May 1, 2010 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 9 3201
