Water chlorination levels in US and EU likely increase cancer risk, study finds

Bladder cancer risk increased 33% and colorectal cancer by 15% in using chlorine to disinfect water

Chlorinating drinking water at levels common in the United States and European Union probably increases the risk of several cancers, a new analysis of recent research from across the globe finds.

The process of disinfecting water with chlorine creates trihalomethane (THM) byproducts, which are found in virtually all public drinking water systems across the US and EU – nearly 300 million people in the US have concerning levels in their water, by one estimate.

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