title: Trihalomethanes in chlorine and bromine disinfected swimming pools: air-water distributions and human exposure.
abstract: This first study of trihalomethanes (THMs) in swimming pools using bromine agents for water disinfection under real conditions shows that the mixtures of these compounds are largely dominated by bromoform in a similar process as chloroform becomes the dominant THM in pools disinfected with chlorine agents. Bromoform largely predominates in air and water of the pool installations whose concentration changes are linearly correlated. However, the air concentrations of bromoform account for about 6-11% of the expected concentrations according to theoretical partitioning defined by the Henry law. Bromoform in exhaled air of swimmers is correlated with the air concentrations of this disinfectant by-product in the pool building. Comparison of the THM exhaled air concentrations between swimmers and volunteers bathing in the water without swimming or standing in the building outside the water suggest that physical activity enhance exposure to these disinfectant by-products. They also indicate that in swimming pools, besides inhalation, dermal absorption is a relevant route for the incorporation of THMs, particularly those with lower degree of bromination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry (I.D.Æ.A.-C.S.I.C.), Jordi Girona, 18, 08034-Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lourencetti
authors.forename: Joan O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Grimalt
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Font-Ribera
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kogevinas
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001966:Bromine / Q000032:analysis*; D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis*; D002725:Chloroform / Q000032:analysis; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000032:analysis*; D004203:Disinfection; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054879:Halogenation; D006801:Humans; D013551:Swimming Pools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D022882:Trihalomethanes / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004202:Disinfectants; D022882:Trihalomethanes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002713:Chlorine; D002725:Chloroform; D001966:Bromine; C015044:bromoform