Swimming benefits outweigh risks of exposure to disinfection byproducts in pools

Abstract

Disinfection of swimming pool water is critical to ensure the safety of the recreational activity for swimmers. However, swimming pools have a constant loading of organic matter from input water and anthropogenic contamination, leading to elevated levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Epidemiological studies have associated increased risks of adverse health effects with frequent exposure to DBPs in swimming pools. Zhang et al. (2023b) investigated the occurrence of trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), and haloacetaldehydes (HALs) in eight swimming pools and the corresponding input water in a city in Eastern China. The concentrations of THMs, HAAs, HANs, and HALs in swimming pools were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those detected in the input water. The total lifetime cancer and non-cancer health risks of swimmers through oral, dermal, inhalation, buccal, and aural exposure pathways were assessed using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) standard model and Swimmer Exposure Assessment Model (SWIMODEL). The results showed that dermal and inhalation pathways were the most significant for the associated cancer and non-cancer risks. This article provides an overview and perspectives of DBPs in swimming pools, the benefits of swimming, the need to improve the monitoring of DBPs, and the importance of swimmers’ hygiene practices to keep swimming pools clean. The benefits of swimming outweigh the risks from DBP exposure for the promotion of public health.