Behnam Afsar; Ebrahim Fataei; Ali Akbar Imani
Abstract
Background: Failure to observe proper hygiene principles of water and swimming pool environment is effective in causing health problems and transmission of infectious diseases to swimmers. This study aimed to analyze the level of Escherichia coli and Heterotrophic Plate Count in mineral pools in Sarein.Methods: ...
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Background: Failure to observe proper hygiene principles of water and swimming pool environment is effective in causing health problems and transmission of infectious diseases to swimmers. This study aimed to analyze the level of Escherichia coli and Heterotrophic Plate Count in mineral pools in Sarein.Methods: For this purpose, sampling was performed in each season, and the samples were tested according to the standard method. Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality or abnormality of the data. Then, through ANOVA, the differences between the seasons and the pools were compared in terms of the studied parameters.Results: The results of the analysis of variance showed that there was no significant difference between the spas in terms of the measured parameters. A comparison of the average data showed that the amount of contamination of mineral spas during the seasons with E. coli was more than the allowable value announced by the National Standard Organization of Iran. The amount of residual chlorine in all samples was zero and the pH was equal to 6.8. The results of principal component analysis showed that mineral spas No. 6, 2, and 11 had the highest HPC (Heterotrophic Plate count) and pH and 9 Cheshmeh, Ershad, and Ghahveh Sui mineral spas based on the second component had the highest E. coli; No. 7 had the lowest E. coli.Conclusion: Finally, it can be concluded that the cause of the contamination of mineral swimming pools in Sarein city is the high volume of passengers and the lack of proper sanitary management of swimming pools.
Mohammadreza Heydari; Nader Parsa; Rahim Davani
Volume 1, Issue 2 , October 2013, , Pages 67-76
Abstract
Background: Trihalomethanes are toxic and dangerous substances that are formed in the presence of organic materials when water is chlorinated for disinfection. The Iranian National Standard, World Health Organization, European Union, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and International Agency for Research ...
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Background: Trihalomethanes are toxic and dangerous substances that are formed in the presence of organic materials when water is chlorinated for disinfection. The Iranian National Standard, World Health Organization, European Union, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and International Agency for Research in Cancer standards have established a Maximum Contaminant Level for Trihalomethanes for the quality of consumable water. The aim of this study was to determine if the trihalomethanes level in the water of Fars province swimming pools comply with these recommendations.Methods: The laboratory study design was conducted by utilizing spectrophotometer Hack DR5000 VIS-UV equipment for evaluating trihalomethanes concentrations, digital photometer Palin-test for measuring chlorine and pH to process different samples collected from 43 indoor and outdoor swimming pools in Fars Province, Iran. The dependent variable was trihalomethanes and chlorine compounds were independent variables. Precise laboratory experimental methods and appropriate statistical analysis were conducted using SPSS.Results: Mean concentration of trihalomethanes was found to be 242.1μg/l, ranging from 0 to 990μg/l for 43 public swimming pools in Fars province. Association of trihalomethanes and chlorine components with analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was highly significant (P<0.0001).Conclusion: Study results showed that there were strong associations between chlorine compounds and trihalomethanes concentrations. The mean trihalomethanes was 1.2-times (241.2μg/l VS. 200.0μg/l) higher than the national and 3-folds (241.2μg/l VS. 80.0μg/l) higher than the worldwide standards. Therefore, based upon standard recommendations, this conclusion could pose a hazard to public health.
