Title: Toxicity evaluation of polymeric ferric sulphate

Authors: Suzanne Hendrich, Maohong Fan, Shih-wu Sung, Robert C. Brown, Semakaleng Lebepe-Mazur, Ronald Myers, Gary Osweiler

Addresses: Food Science & Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Center for Sustainable Environmental Technology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Civil and Construction Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Center for Sustainable Environmental Technology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Research Assoc., Food Science & Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Veterinary Pathology Lab, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA

Abstract: Toxicity evaluation of water treated with polymeric ferric sulphate (PFS), an aluminium-free coagulant, was conducted in this research. Six-week old male F344/N rats exposed to PFS-treated water for three months did not show any obvious pathology as observed histologically or in clinical chemistry compared to rats given tap water. There was no significant difference in body weight gain in the rats drinking PFS-treated water compared with rats drinking tap water between five and eight weeks of treatment. Prolonged exposure to PFS-treated water is warranted to elucidate further the possible toxicity of aluminium-free coagulant.

Keywords: toxicity; polymeric ferric sulphate; coagulant; drinking water.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2001.000775

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2001 Vol.1 No.4, pp.464-471

Published online: 21 Jul 2003 *

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