Estimation of bromate and bromide in ozonated drinking water using IC-‎HPLC

Disinfecting drinking water is crucial for protecting human health. The objective of this study is to monitor disinfection BrO₃–‎ by-product and Br–‎, which result from the reaction of ozone used as a disinfectant in certain drinking water sources, including ozonized bottled, well, and tap water. The ion chromatography high-performance liquid chromatography (IC-HPLC) was used to quantify BrO₃–‎ and Br–‎ in different drinking water samples (well, tap, and ozonated bottled water) collected in Erbil city Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In this investigation, the Br–‎ concentrations in ozonated, well, and tap water were between 12.3 to 31245 µg L–‎1. The results of this study indicated that most samples had Br–‎‎ levels below the detection limit. However, 25% of the analyzed samples had BrO₃–‎ concentrations ranging from 11 to 33.1 µg L–‎1, exceeding the maximum allowable limit set by the WHO and EPA (10 µg L–‎1). As a result, individuals consuming these ozonated bottled water are at an increased risk of cancer.