Chloramine/monochloramine in UK drinking water

Health and Safety Executive did not have the information requested.

Dear Health and Safety Executive,

This is a Freedom of Information Request.

I would like to see any information the HSE holds which shows why chloramine/monochloramine was not supported by industry for "Product Type 5" under the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC.

I would like to see any information the HSE holds that shows why there is no CE mark,European Technical Approval,British Standard or any other national standard of an EEA state which provides an equivalent standard of protection and performance which applies to chloramine/monochloramine.

I would like to see any and all information held by the HSE which provides any information of how and why chloramine/monochloramine,an unapproved and uncertified chemical,was allowed into UK drinking water.
This will include any recommendations and/or objections from the HSE and any other parties,and any information you hold from outside sources on this subject.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Jones

Infoline Admin,

Ref: HPHS-82YCB3

Dear Mr Jones,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Chloramine/monochloramine in UK
drinking water.

Infoline is unable to respond to your enquiry as it requires a specialist
response. Therefore it has been forwarded for reply to:

Chemicals Regulation Directorate

Health and Safety Executive

Building 1, 3rd Floor

Redgrave Court

Merton Road

Bootle

Merseyside

L20 7HS

Telephone: 0151 951 4000 (Switchboard)

If you require to contact HSE again regarding this enquiry please quote
the reference number above.

I hope this helps, but if you require further assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact this address again or telephone HSE Infoline on 08453
450055.

Yours sincerely

Helena Phillips

HSE Infoline

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Health and Safety Executive

Dear Mr Jones,

I replied to your enquiry last week, but I have received an email delivery
failure notice, so I am sending it again, hopefully it will get through to
you this time.

Regards,

Andrew Edwards
Health and Safety Executive

show quoted sections

Michael Jones left an annotation ()

From: Andrew Edwards
Sent: 04 March 2010 17:01
To: [FOI #29609 email]
Subject: Chloramine / Monochloramine in UK Drinking Water

Information not held

Dear Mr Jones

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010020518

Thank you for your request for information about:

Chloramine / Monochloramine in UK Drinking Water

Your request was received on 23 February 2010 and I am dealing with it
under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and
electronic records, I have established the following in relation to your
three questions:

Question 1: Information the HSE holds which shows why
chloramine/monochloramine was not supported by industry for "Product Type
5" under the Biocidal

Products Directive (98/8/EC) - Answer: we do not hold any information on
this issue.

Question 2: Information the HSE holds that shows why there is no CE mark,
European Technical Approval, British Standard or any other national
standard

of an EEA state which provides an equivalent standard of protection and
performance which applies to chloramine/monochloramine - Answer: we do not
hold any information on this issue.

Question 3 - Information held by the HSE which provides any information of
how and why chloramine/monochloramine, an unapproved and uncertified
chemical, was allowed into UK drinking water - Answer: we do not hold any
information on this issue.

As my email of the 23rd February outlined, the use of a chemical for
drinking water disinfection, where it has not been placed onto the market
for that use, does not fall within the scope of the Biocidal Products
Directive/Regulations that we administer.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the decisions made by HSE you may ask for an
internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter by
writing to me.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545700
Fax: 01625 524510
Email: [email address]
Website: http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Andrew Edwards
Health and Safety Executive.

Dear Andrew Edwards,Health and Safety Executive,

Thank you for your e-mail.

In your previous response you stated:
"...the use of a chemical for drinking water disinfection, where it has not been placed onto the market for that use, does not fall within the scope of the Biocidal Products Directive/Regulations that we administer.

1.What information is held by the HSE that demonstrates that ammonia has not been placed onto the market for the use of drinking water disinfection?

Fourteen massive water corporations in the UK are using a combination of ammonia and chlorine to produce (mono)chloramine in vast amounts.

2.Are you suggesting that the suppliers of these chemicals have no idea what the water corporations are using these chemicals to make (mono)chloramine,do you (HSE)hold any information which supports your hypothesis?

3.If the suppliers to the water industry of ammonia are indeed aware of the intended use by the water corporations then would this then bring it within the scope of the Biocidal Products Directive/Regulations that you administer?

4.I would like to see any information held by the HSE which shows the names of the companies which supply ammonia to the UK water industry.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Jones

Health and Safety Executive

Dear Mr Jones,

With reference to your enquiry of the 10th, I have included answers to
your individual questions in the text of your orginal enquiry below.

Regards,

Andrew Edwards,
Health and Safety Executive.

show quoted sections

Michael Jones left an annotation ()

Dear Mr Jones,

With reference to your enquiry of the 10th, I have included answers to
your individual questions in the text of your orginal enquiry below.

Regards,

Andrew Edwards,
Health and Safety Executive.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Jones [mailto:[FOI #29609 email]]
Sent: 10 March 2010 18:39
To: Andrew Edwards
Subject: Re: FW: Chloramine / Monochloramine in UK Drinking Water

Dear Andrew Edwards,Health and Safety Executive,

Thank you for your e-mail.

In your previous response you stated:
"...the use of a chemical for drinking water disinfection, where it
has not been placed onto the market for that use, does not fall
within the scope of the Biocidal Products Directive/Regulations
that we administer.

1.What information is held by the HSE that demonstrates that
ammonia has not been placed onto the market for the use of drinking
water disinfection?

Fourteen massive water corporations in the UK are using a
combination of ammonia and chlorine to produce (mono)chloramine in
vast amounts.

A. We do not hold any information that specifically demonstrates that
ammonia has not been placed onto the market for the use of drinking
water disinfection. Similarly, we do not hold any information to
demonstrate that ammonia is being placed onto the market with the
intention that it is used for drinking water disinfection. If you are
aware of any such biocidal products being placed onto the UK market we
would welcome the information so that the products can be investigated
and any necessary enforcement action could be taken.

2.Are you suggesting that the suppliers of these chemicals have no
idea what the water corporations are using these chemicals to make
(mono)chloramine,do you (HSE)hold any information which supports
your hypothesis?

A. We do not have any information on the knowledge held by the suppliers
of these chemicals in relation to this matter.

3.If the suppliers to the water industry of ammonia are indeed
aware of the intended use by the water corporations then would this
then bring it within the scope of the Biocidal Products
Directive/Regulations that you administer?

A. If the intention in placing the ammonia onto the market is for it to
be specifically used for biocidal purposes, then that would be within
the scope of the BPD. However, that intent would normally be
demonstrated by some indication on the product
packaging/literature/advertising that this is the intended use of the
product. If the intention is simply that it is generic ammonia, which
can be used for a wide range of non-biocidal processes, then that is not
within the scope of the Directive.

4.I would like to see any information held by the HSE which shows
the names of the companies which supply ammonia to the UK water
industry.

A. I have been unable to find any details that identify the companies
who are supplying ammonia to the UK water industry.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Jones

Sheldon Klein left an annotation ()

Go to
http://www.santeforhealth.com/shopdispla... a U.S. company and see the chloramine removing ULTIMATE shower filter. It retails for $179.99 US dollars and it works.

v montgomery left an annotation ()

Severn trent water are using chloromine in their water supplies instead of chlorine.

there are many reports in USA especially San Francisco & other states of adverse reactions to chloromine in water supplies, to date there has been no long-term studies of the effects of long term use as a water disinfectant on humans. i know many people in my region who suffer with dry mouth and few other minor irritations which are symptoms of chloromine toxicity.

chloromine is marketed as an EMERGENCY disinfectant, but not as a permanent and long term water disinfectant, i would consider that fact and that there has been no long term testing to be an issue that should require the HSE to investigate independantly. many UK water supply companies are treating their water supplies with chloromine, how come the HSE is NOT aware of this?