Occupational exposure to trihalomethanes in indoor swimming pools
Open accessAbstract
The study evaluated occupational exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) in indoor swimming pools. Thirty-two subjects, representing the whole workforce employed in the five public indoor swimming pools in the city of Modena (Northern Italy) were enrolled. Both environmental and biological monitoring of THMs exposure were performed. Environmental concentrations of THMs in different areas inside the swimming pools (at the poolside, in the reception area and in the engine-room) were measured as external exposure index, while individual exposure of swimming pool employees was estimated by THMs concentration in alveolar air. The levels of THMs observed in swimming pool water ranged from 17.8 to 70.8 microg/l; the mean levels of THMs in ambient air were 25.6+/-24.5 microg/m3 in the engine room, 26.1+/-24.3 microg/m3 in the reception area and 58.0+/-22.1 microg/m3 at the poolside. Among THMs, only chloroform and bromodichloromethane were always measured in ambient air, while dibromochloromethane was detected in ambient air rarely and bromoform only once. Biological monitoring results showed a THMs mean value of 20.9+/-15.6 microg/m3. Statistically significant differences were observed according to the main job activity: in pool attendants, THMs alveolar air were approximately double those observed in employees working in other areas of the swimming pools (25.1+/-16.5 microg/m3 vs. 14.8+/-12.3 microg/m3, P < 0.01). THMs in alveolar air samples were significantly correlated with THMs concentrations in ambient air (r = 0.57; P < 0.001). Indoor swimming pool employees are exposed to THMs at ambient air levels higher than the general population. The different environmental exposure inside the swimming pool can induce a different internal dose in exposed workers. The correlation found between ambient and alveolar air samples confirms that breath analysis is a good biological index of occupational exposure to these substances at low environmental levels.
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There is a positive correlation between chloroform concentrations in swimming pool waters and its corresponding ambient air.
“It is not surprising to observe a positive correlation between chloroform concentrations in SPWs and its corresponding ambient air as shown in Fig. 3 (Catto et al., 2012;Fantuzzi et al., 2001Fantuzzi et al., , 2010;;Kogevinas et al., 2010;Lévesque et al., 2000;Lourencetti et al., 2012;Marina et al., 2009;Richardson et al., 2010).”
From Regulation, formation, exposure, and treatment of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool waters: A critical review (2018) · cites this paper as Fantuzzi et al., 2001
Chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform are the most common THMs in swimming pool atmospheres.
“Chloroform (CHCl3), bromodichloromethane (CHCl2Br), dibromochloromethane (CHClBr2), and bromoform (CHBr3) are the most common THMs in swimming pool atmospheres. [5 -7]”
From Occupational exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes: adverse health effects among personnel in habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools (2019) · cites this paper as [7]
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Influence of physical activity in the intake of trihalomethanes in indoor swimming pools
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- Authors
- Fantuzzi, G., Righi, E., Predieri, G., Ceppelli, G., Gobba, F., & Aggazzotti, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Fantuzzi, Guglielmina
- Venue
- Science of The Total Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-01
- Volume
- 264
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 257-265
- ISSN
- 0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2088146829
- Cited by
- 126
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Keywords
- trihalomethanes, occupational exposure, indoor swimming pools, alveolar air, biomonitoring, ambient air, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform, work activities, breath analysis
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Swimming Pools, Occupational Exposure, Air Pollution, Indoor, Trihalomethanes
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