Presence of Disinfection Byproducts in Public Swimming Pools in Medellín, Colombia

Paula Lara, Valentina Ramírez, Fernando Castrillón and Gustavo A. Peñuela
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Paula Lara: Faculty of Engineering, Pollution Diagnostics and Control Group (GDCON), University of Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, 050010 Medellin, Colombia
Valentina Ramírez: Faculty of Engineering, Pollution Diagnostics and Control Group (GDCON), University of Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, 050010 Medellin, Colombia
Fernando Castrillón: Health Authority Entity of Medellín, La Alpujarra Administrative Center of Medellín, Calle 42 No 52-106, 050015 Medellín, Colombia
Gustavo A. Peñuela: Faculty of Engineering, Pollution Diagnostics and Control Group (GDCON), University of Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, 050010 Medellin, Colombia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: The quality of water in swimming pools is essential to avoid risks to the health of users. Medellín has more than 1000 public swimming pools, which are supervised by the Medellín Health Authority to monitor and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. The Health Authority has financed several studies related to the quality of drinking and recreational water in Medellín in order to protect consumers and users. One such study involves the evaluation of the presence of disinfection byproducts (DBP). The best known DBPs resulting from disinfection with chlorine are trihalomethanes (THMs) and halogenated acetic acids (HAAs), as well as other minorities such as chloramines or halophenols (HPs). DBPs pose a greater risk in swimming pool water because there is a greater possibility of ingestion, since exposure occurs through several routes at the same time (direct ingestion of water, inhalation of volatile or aerosol solutes, dermal contact and absorption through skin). In the present work, high concentrations of THMs and HAAs were detected in the public swimming pools selected in the study, but the presence of HPs was not detected in the pools.

Keywords: byproducts; halogenated acetic acids; pools; trihalomethanes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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