Das Projekt "Bildung und Vorkommen halogenierter Hydroxyfuranone im Trinkwasser" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität zu Karlsruhe (TH), Engler-Bunte-Institut, Bereich Wasserchemie und DVGW-Forschungsstelle durchgeführt. During chlorine disinfection, chlorine reacts with natural organic material in the water and mutagenic compounds are formed. Epidemiological studies have shown that an increase in the risk of cancer of several organs is correlated with the consumption of chlorine disinfected water. The chloro hydroxyfuranone, MX, has been shown to be the main mutagenic compound in drinking water. MX is one of the most potent bacterial mutagens known and has been shown recently to be A rodent carcinogen. In water containing high levels of bromides, it is expected that not only chloro hydroxyfuranones, but also bromo hydroxyfuranones are produced. One part of the proposal is concerned with the determination of halogenated hydroxyfuranones in German drinking waters. The interaction of halogenated hydroxyfuranones with DNA will be studied by chemical methods. In addition, the work aims at the identification of the main fraction(s) of natural organic material producing mutagenicity, halogenated hydroxyfuranones and hitherto unknown mutagens.