Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has commissioned an assessment by a public body of potential inhalation and dermal exposure arising from domestic water supply arrangements.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) commissioned research in 2010 on the dermal and inhalation toxicity of regulated trihalomethanes (THM), which are byproducts of drinking water disinfection. The review found that even in "extreme exposure scenarios" it was unlikely that dermal contact or inhalation would cause adverse health effects.

Defra continues to monitor emerging scientific evidence and works with expert bodies including the UK Committee on Toxicity and the World Health Organization to ensure that drinking water standards remain protective of public health.