Toxic byproducts of water disinfection in swimming pools:
ways of formation and health risks
(review)

Summary

Up to date around 100 byproducts of water disinfection in swimming pools have been identified. Their basic precursors are biological fluids of the human organism and various organic pollutants also introduced by the visitors. Numerous studies have revealed the potential toxicity of water disinfection byproducts. At present in some countries the concentrations of trihalomethanes and halogen acetic acids in water in swimming pools are subject to regulation. Meeting the currently adopted water quality standards can be ensured by traditional disinfection methods (chlorination, ozonation, ultraviolet irradiation, the use of mixed oxidants) only providing the attendance policy and swimming pool maintenance rules have been observed, during their intensive use, in particular. Lately much attention has been paid to highly toxic nitrogen-containing and brominated byproducts of water disinfection that are present in high concentrations in swimming pools with sea water. For water disinfection in swimming pools different methods are used; herewith for each of them alongside with advantages the probability of byproduct formation exists. The list of detected disinfection byproducts is continuously expanded owing to the improvement of the analytical instruments as well as to the increase of the variety of pollutants introduced by the visitors, sun-protections creams in particular.

Key words

swimming pool , disinfection byproducts , precursor , highly toxic chlorinated, brominated and nitrogen-containing substances