Monitoring and factors affecting levels of airborne and water bromoform in chlorinated seawater swimming pools.

Water and air quality of eight seawater swimming pools using chlorine disinfection was measured during four sampling campaigns, spread on one full-year, and in four thalassotherapy centers located in Southeast of France. Concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) in air and in water as well as concentrations of parameters, including nonpurgeable organic carbon (NPOC), free residual chlorine (Cl), pH, Kjeldhal Nitrogen (KN), salinity, conductivity, bromide ions and, water and air temperature, were measured. Water and air samples were collected in triplicates morning - at the opening of the pools -, noon and night - at the closing of the pools -, in summer and winter. Data analysis was performed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and rotated component matrix, from both data quality and other parameters such as TOC, aromaticity (UV), pH, hygrometry, and free residual chlorine (Cl). This statistical analysis demonstrates a high correlation between TOC, Cl and UV and THM levels found in air and water, particularly for the major ones (CHBr in water 300.0μg/L mean, 1029.0μg/L maximum; CHBr in air: 266.1μg/m mean, 1600.0μg/m maximum, and CHClBr in water: 18.9μg/L mean, 81.0μg/L maximum; CHClBr in air: 13.6μg/m mean, 150.0μg/m maximum). These high levels of bromoform (CHBr) are particularly worrisome in such health institutions, even these levels do not exceed the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5mg/m as an 8hour time-weighted average currently fixed by various administrations, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).