A family of organic compounds based on the acetic acid molecule (CH3COOH)
where one or more hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms are replaced by a
halogen (chlorine, bromine, fluorine and/or iodine). There are nine species of
HAAs including monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), and
dibromoacetic acid (DBAA). HAAs are colourless, have a low volatility, dissolve
easily in water and are fairly stable.
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They can be present in chlorinated drinking water as chlorinated water
disinfectant byproduct formed when the chlorine reacts with natural organic
matter and/or bromide ions in raw water supplies. Other sources of haloacetic
acids in the environment include waste water from chemical and pharmaceutical
manufacturing processes, and industrial cooling water. The term 'Total
Haloacetic Acids' (THAAs) refers to the sum of the concentrations of
dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monochloroacetic acid,
monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid in a water sample.
