Detection and origin of 3-chloro-4-dichloromethyl-5-hydroxy-2(5H)furanone (MX) in river water

An isolation experiment of MX, a potent mutagen and promoter in drinking wa ter, from river water contaminated with industrial and domestic sewage was carried out. The presence of MX was demonstrated by GC-MS-SIM method. The c ontribution ratio of MX to the total mutagenic activity of river water was 5-36%. To elucidate the origin of MX, several chemicals contained in domest ic sewage were treated with sodium hypochlorite. From each reaction solutio n of catechin mixture, catechin and diosmin, MX was isolated and identified . These contribution ratios to the total mutagenicity of each reaction mixt ure were 36.3%, 95.5% and 4.3%, respectively. The results suggest that dome stic sewage is a new origin of MX.