Iodination of nutrients in the presence of chlorine based disinfectants used in drinking water treatment.

Under conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract chlorine dioxide (ClO2), HOCl, and NH2Cl caused covalent organification of iodide to nutrient biochemicals. The extent of binding seemed to be proportional to the electromotive force (EMF) and stoichiometry of the redox couple between iodide and the oxidant. Almost half of 71 nutrients examined were found to bind reactive iodine. Iodide was found to inhibit the quinoidal chromogen formation from tyrosine and ClO2, demonstrating the preferential generation of reactive iodine in complex organic mixtures. These findings indicate that ingestion of residual disinfectants via drinking water may pose a health risk in terms of in vivo generation of iodinated organics. Structure, formation, and biological activity of these compounds are under study.