Safety and Effectiveness of Monochloramine Treatment for Disinfecting Hospital Water Networks

Isabella Marchesi, Stefania Paduano, Giuseppina Frezza, Luca Sircana, Elena Vecchi, Pietro Zuccarello, Gea Oliveri Conti, Margherita Ferrante, Paola Borella and Annalisa Bargellini
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Isabella Marchesi: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Stefania Paduano: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Giuseppina Frezza: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Luca Sircana: University Hospital Policlinico of Modena, Largo del Pozzo 71, 41124 Modena, Italy
Elena Vecchi: University Hospital Policlinico of Modena, Largo del Pozzo 71, 41124 Modena, Italy
Pietro Zuccarello: Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Gea Oliveri Conti: Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Margherita Ferrante: Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Paola Borella: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Annalisa Bargellini: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: The formation of potentially carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, associated with monochloramine, requires further research due to the growing interest in using this biocide for the secondary disinfection of water in public and private buildings. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possible formation of N-nitrosamines and other toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs) in hospital hot water networks treated with monochloramine. The effectiveness of this biocide in controlling Legionella spp. contamination was also verified. For this purpose, four different monochloramine-treated networks, in terms of the duration of treatment and method of biocide injection, were investigated. Untreated hot water, municipal cold water and, limited to N-nitrosamines analysis, hot water treated with chlorine dioxide were analyzed for comparison. Legionella spp. contamination was successfully controlled without any formation of N-nitrosamines. No nitrification or formation of the regulated DBPs, such as chlorites and trihalomethanes, occurred in monochloramine-treated water networks. However, a stable formulation of hypochlorite, its frequent replacement with a fresh product, and the routine monitoring of free ammonia are recommended to ensure a proper disinfection. Our study confirms that monochloramine may be proposed as an effective and safe strategy for the continuous disinfection of building plumbing systems, preventing vulnerable individuals from being exposed to legionellae and dangerous DBPs.

Keywords: monochloramine; disinfection by-products; N-nitrosamines; hospital setting; water networks; Legionella (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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