Chemical additives in new RO systems.
Recent analysis of water and dialysate samples shows that due to new RO systems chemical substances can migrate into the osmotic water. A large number of tests have shown that there are no additives in drinking and softened water, but that the problem arises after the RO system. For the tests, samples were taken in the drinking water, after the softener and after the RO system. When the problem was located there were also samples taken from a similar water treatment system, and further samples were taken from two identical RO systems from another supplier. Instead of an RO system that removes all kind of substances, we're now confronted with systems that add volatile aromatic carbon hydrogens. Further tests have shown that dialysate contains the same level of these carbon hydrogens. It seems that even after having primed the artificial kidney in the blood compartment carbon hydrogens are present. The effects of these substances can be alarming because levels have been found equal to limits that are being proposed for drinking water under new European legislation. Is this the moment to look at our RO water quality level, and state new limits for new additives, should we work out new prescriptions for water quality or should we let the rules remain as they are?
Gietman
H
H
Haemodialysis Unit, Deventer Hospital, The Netherlands. h.gietman@hccnet.nl
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic