Chlorination of drinking water and sex ratio at birth in Taiwan

Chlorination has been the major strategy for disinfecting drinking water in Taiwan. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the ch lorination of drinking water was associated with abnormal sex ratios, an in dicator of exposure to pollutants. A "chlorinating municipality" (CHM) was defined as one in which more than 90% of the municipality population was se rved with chlorinated water. A "nonchlorinating municipality" (NCHM) was on e in which less than 5% of the municipality population was served with chlo rinated water. The results of this study found no association between the u se of chlorinated drinking water and abnormal sex ratios at birth in Taiwan . The imbibing of chlorinated water may not reflect contaminant exposure us ing sex ratio as a biomonitor.