The toxicity of a new disinfection by-product, 2,2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) and its occurrence in the chlorinated drinking water

• DCAcAm, the new disinfection byproduct, was detected in chlorinated drinking water.
• Toxicity of DCAcAm was the first time studied on zebrafish, the new model animal.
• DCAcAm could cause the metabolism damage to the adult zebrafish.
• The LC50 of DCAcAm at 96 h in adult zebrafish was 327.5 mg/L.
• DCAcAm was easily accumulated toward the adult zebrafish and should be cautioned.

The detection method of 2,2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a new disinfection by-product (DBP) in chlorinated drinking water, was established using a gas chromatograph coupled with a micro-electron capture detector. The chlorinated water samples were taken from ten drinking water treatment plants around Yangtze River or Taihu Lake in China. The concentration of DCAcAm was detected ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 μg/L in the waterworks around Yangtze River, and 1.5–2.6 μg/L around Taihu Lake. The toxicity of DCAcAm on adult zebrafish was assessed by investigating the metabolism damage with multiple metabolic biomarkers and the accumulation capability with bio-concentration factor. The results showed that DCAcAm could cause the acute metabolism damage and was easily accumulated in zebrafish, and should be extremely cautioned.

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