What is Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS)?
Chlorine is used to sterilise water in most countries. Although it can eliminate communicable diseases such as cholera or typhus, it actually can create new problems. Besides the bad taste, it would also react with the chemical substances in the water to produce ‘ Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ‘ (PAHS). The main sources of these materials are usually tar or asphalt which are used to prevent corrosion inside the water pipe. They are suspected to have strong carcinogenic toxicity. European Union formulates the safe standard that every Litre of drinking water should not contain more than 200 ug of PAHS.
