Haloacetic acids in swimming pool and spa water in the United States and China

The objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence of haloacetic acids （HAAs）, a group of disinfection byproducts, in swimming pool and spa water. The samples were collected from six indoor pools, six outdoor pools and three spas in Pennsylvania, the United States, and from five outdoor pools and nine indoor pools in Beijing, China. Five HAAs （HAA5）, including monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid were analyzed. Total chlorine, pH and total organic carbon concentration were analyzed as well. Results indicated that the levels of HAA5 in swimming pools and spas in the United States ranged from 70 to 3980μg·L^-1, with an arithmetic average at 1440μg·L^-1 and a median level at 1150μg·L^-1. These levels are much higher than the levels reported in chlorinated drinking water and are likely due to organic matters released from swimmers＇ bodies. The levels of HAA5 in swimming pools in China ranged from 13 to 332μg·L^-1, with an arithmetic average at 117μg·L^-1 and a median level at 114μg·L^-1. The lower HAA levels in swimming pools in China were due to the lower chlorine residuals. Results from this study can help water professionals to better understand the formation and stability of HAAs in chlorinated water and assess risks associated with exposures to HAAs in swimming pools and spas.     

Concentration levels of disinfection by-products in 14 swimming pools of China

Swimming has become a popular exercising and recreational activity in China but little is known about the disinfection by-products (DBPs) concentration levels in the pools. This study was conducted as a survey of the DBPs in China swimming pools, and to establish the correlations between the DBP concentrations and the pool water quality parameters. A total of 14 public indoor and outdoor pools in Beijing were included in the survey. Results showed that the median concentrations for total trihalomethanes (TTHM), nine haloacetic acids (HAA9), chloral hydrate (CH), four haloacetonitriles (HAN4), 1,1-dichloropropanone, 1,1,1-trichloropropanone and trichloronitromethane were 33.8, 109.1, 30.1, 3.2, 0.3, 0.6 µg∙L⁻¹ and below detection limit, respectively. The TTHM and HAA9 levels were in the same magnitude of that in many regions of the world. The levels of CH and nitrogenous DBPs were greatly higher than and were comparable to that in typical drinking water, respectively. Disinfection by chlorine dioxide or trichloroisocyanuric acid could substantially lower the DBP levels. The outdoor pools had higher TTHM and HAA9 levels, but lower trihaloacetic acids (THAA) levels than the indoor pools. The TTHM and HAA9 concentrations could be moderately correlated with the free chlorine and total chlorine residuals but not with the total organic carbon (TOC) contents. When the DBP concentration levels from other survey studies were also included for statistical analysis, a good correlation could be established between the TTHM levels and the TOC concentration. The influence of chlorine residual on DBP levels could also be significant.     

Unlocked disinfection by-product formation potential upon exposure of swimming pool water to additional stimulants

• Swimming pool water was studied for DBPs upon exposure to additional stimulants. • DBP formation could be induced by residual chlorine and extended incubation. • Urine led to a massive formation of chloroform with additional stimulants. • Reactions between chlorine and anthropogenic organics were slow and long-lasting. • Urine control and air ventilation should be on the priority list for pool management. Anthropogenic organics are known to be responsible for the formation of harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool water (SPW). The research explored an important scenario of SPW with no additional anthropogenic organic input. With stimulations by residual chlorine or additional chlorine and extended incubation, the formation of DBPs, especially chloroform, was significantly induced. Similar observations were found by investigating synthetic SPW made with sweat and urine. The presence of urine led to a massive formation of chloroform, as noted by an approximate 19-fold increase after 165-day incubation with a shock chlorine dose. The research suggests that consistent residual chlorine and long water retention as two typical features of SPW could unlock the DBP formation potential of anthropogenic organics. Thus, limiting the introduction of anthropogenic organics may not have an immediate effect on reducing DBP levels, because their reactions with chlorine can be slow and long-lasting. Pool management should prioritize on control of urine and improving air ventilation. This work is useful to deepen understandings about DBP formation in SPW and provide implications for pool management and prospective legislation.     

Effect of treated swimming pool water on the levels of trihalomethanes in swimmer's urine

Swimming pools are considered to be the prime source for public exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs), mainly chloroform, because of their use for hygienic purposes. High doses of chlorine are easily perceptible by smell. The aim of this study was to measure simultaneously the THM levels in urine and blood of swimmers and in pool water itself (from city and university swimming pool), in order to investigate further the relationship between substances in different matrices at known environmental levels with uptake of these substances in indoor swimming pools. Volatile analytes were isolated and preconcentrated from the samples by thin layer headspace analysis (TLHS) with autogenous generation of the liquid sorbent. Chloroform, bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane were detected in the urine of all persons attending a swimming pool. Concentrations of THM compounds varied in the case of each swimmer. The research confirmed that approximately 10% of the volatile haloorganic compounds are excreted in urine in the unchanged form.     

天然水中离子对消毒过程中挥发性卤代烃生成的影响

以天然水中的腐殖酸为研究对象,用其活性片段苯二酚和天然水做对比,研究了氯化过程中挥发性卤代烃的生成机理,并分析了天然水体中常见离子对氯化反应的影响．结果表明,氯化过程中三卤甲烷和三卤乙烷是稳定产物,随着反应时间和加氯量的增加产生量增加;烯烃为不稳定的中间产物,实验过程中偶尔有检出;1,1,2,2-四氯乙烷为相对稳定的中间产物。随着反应时间和加氯量的增加先增加而后减少．天然水中的溴离子对挥发性卤代烃的生成有一定的促进作用;铵离子和镁离子对氯化产物有不同程度的抑制作用;碳酸根离子对不同的挥发性卤代烃产物有不同的影响．     

Trihalomethanes formation in water treatment plants and distribution lines: a monitoring and modeling scheme

Monitoring and modeling of the concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) within four water treatment plants (WTPs) and distribution lines in Fayoum City, Egypt, were studied. Sampling sites for raw and treated waters were determined by global positioning system and the Arc geographic information system software was used for mapping. THMs were monitored using 25 sampling points located at the plant exit and through the distribution lines up to the plant extremity. Results indicated that the THMs concentration varied significantly but it was very rarely higher than the allowed maximum contaminant level of 100 μg L^?1. However, at the dead zones in the distribution lines, the THMs increased by about 160% compared to in-plant level. Furthermore, the level of THMs in hot months was about 1.3 times higher than in cold ones. The influence of some independent variables such as temperature, pH, ammonia concentration, total organic carbon and color were investigated by Pearson model to find their correlation with the rate of THMs formation in WTPs. The resulted R values ranged from 0.81 to 0.98. Successful application of the model to a selected region on the distribution lines has resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.98.     

持久性有机卤代物在亚临界水中的脱卤机制研究进展

通过综述国内外研究进展并结合本研究组相关研究成果,对持久性有机卤代物在亚临界水中的脱卤路径及机制进行了综合性总结与分析,并对目前存在分歧的焦点问题进行了剖析讨论,同时对亚临界水脱卤技术的应用前景和可行性进行了评述.     

Treatment,residual chlorine and season as factors affecting variability of trihalomethanes in small drinking water systems

Seasonal variability in source water can lead to challenges for drinking water providers related to operational optimization and process control in treatment facilities. The objective of this study is to investigate seasonal variability of water quality in municipal small water systems (<3000 residents) supplied by surface waters. Residual chlorine and trihalomethanes (THM) were measured over seven years (2003–2009). Comparisons are made within each system over time, as well as between systems according to the type of their treatment technologies. THM concentrations are generally higher in the summer and autumn. The seasonal variability was generally more pronounced in systems using chlorination plus additional treatment. Chloroform, total THM (TTHM) and residual chlorine concentrations were generally lower in systems using chlorination plus additional treatment. Conversely, brominated THM concentrations were higher in systems using additional treatment. Residual chlorine was highest in the winter and lowest in the spring and summer. Seasonal variations were most pronounced for residual chlorine in systems with additional treatment. There was generally poor correlation between THM concentrations and concentrations of residual chlorine. Further study with these data will be beneficial in finding determinants and indicators for both quantity and variability of disinfection byproducts and other water quality parameters.     

不同含水量细砂介质中挥发苯的有效扩散系数研究

挥发性有机污染物在土壤多孔介质中的有效扩散系数是土壤气相抽提(soil vapor extraction,SVE)传质过程中的一个重要参数.笔者以苯为研究对象,采用土柱扩散试验,对不同含水量条件下挥发苯在细砂介质中的有效扩散系数和扩散规律进行研究.结果表明,对于吸附型矿物含量少的细砂介质,含水量大小在一定程度上影响了挥发苯的扩散过程.含水量在50 g·kg-1时,扩散最快;低于50 g·kg-1时,随含水量增大扩散能力增强;高于50 g·kg-1时,扩散能力则随含水量增大而减弱.同一扩散柱中,随着扩散距离增加,挥发苯的有效扩散系数增大,这可能与其蒸汽分压降低有关.     

挥发性有机物混合暴露对小鼠脑组织的氧化损伤及学习记忆能力的影响

为探讨挥发性有机物混合急性暴露对小鼠脑组织氧化损伤及学习记忆能力的影响,选用雄性昆明种小鼠50只,随机分为对照组和4个染毒组。1到4号染毒组中甲醛、苯、甲苯和二甲苯浓度依次为:(1.0+1.1+2.0+2.0)、(3.0+3.3+6.0+6.0)、(5.0+5.5+10.0+10.0)、(10.0+11.0+20.0+20.0)mg·m~(-3)。各染毒组混合气体组分的浓度分别是我国室内空气质量标准(GB/T18883—2002)的10、30、50和100倍。结果显示,在Morris水迷宫实验第4天,2、3和4号染毒组小鼠的逃避潜伏期分别为(68.9±10.3)、(72.2±4.0)和(71.5±5.1)s,比对照组(48.5±10.1)s显著延长(P<0.05或P<0.01),但小鼠的脑体比和抓力在染毒期间没有明显变化。同时,随着染毒剂量的增加,小鼠脑组织中GSH含量显著降低,ROS和MDA含量显著升高。研究表明,挥发性有机物混合暴露可导致小鼠学习记忆能力降低,而脑组织氧化损伤可能是引起神经毒性,导致学习记忆能力降低的原因之一。