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Airborne trichloramine (NCl3) levels and self-reported health symptoms in indoor swimming pool workers: dose-response relationships

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 23, pages 88–93 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

The hypothesis that attendance at indoor chlorinated swimming pool is a risk factor for irritative ocular and respiratory symptoms and bronchial asthma is well known in literature, although epidemiological evidence is still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between airborne trichloramine (NCl3) levels and irritative symptoms in swimming pool employees in order to obtain detailed data regarding dose-response relationships and to identify the airborne NCl3 exposure level, if any, without health effects. A total of 20 indoor swimming pools in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy were included in the study. Information about the health status of 128 employees was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Exposure to airborne NCl3 was evaluated in indoor swimming pools by a modified DPD/KI method. The results of the study evidenced a mean value of airborne NCl3 of 0.65±0.20 mg/m3 (ranging from 0.20 to 1.02 mg/m3). Both ocular and upper respiratory symptoms, in particular red eyes, runny nose, voice loss and cold symptoms, were declared more frequently by lifeguards and trainers when compared with employees working in other areas of the facility (office, cafe, and so on). Pool attendants exposed to airborne NCl3 levels of >0.5 mg/m3 experienced higher risks for runny nose (OR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.22–6.93) red eyes (OR: 3.16; 95% CI: 1.46–6.82), voice loss (OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.60–7.95) and itchy eyes (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.04–4.78) than other employees. Moreover, red eyes, itchy eyes, runny nose and voice loss are related to airborne NCl3 levels, with strong dose-response relationships. In conclusion, this study shows that lifeguards and trainers experience ocular and respiratory irritative symptoms more frequently than employees not exposed. Irritative symptoms become significant starting from airborne NCl3 levels of >0.5 mg/m3, confirming that the WHO-recommended value can be considered protective in occupational exposure to airborne NCl3 in indoor swimming pools.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Work (no. 1299, 2006). We are also grateful to the town councilors and all of the staff at the participating swimming pools for their support and collaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi, 287, Modena, 41125, Italy

    Guglielmina Fantuzzi, Elena Righi, Guerrino Predieri, Pierluigi Giacobazzi, Berchotd Petra & Gabriella Aggazzotti

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  1. Guglielmina Fantuzzi
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  2. Elena Righi
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  3. Guerrino Predieri
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  4. Pierluigi Giacobazzi
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  5. Berchotd Petra
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  6. Gabriella Aggazzotti
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Correspondence to Guglielmina Fantuzzi.

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Fantuzzi, G., Righi, E., Predieri, G. et al. Airborne trichloramine (NCl3) levels and self-reported health symptoms in indoor swimming pool workers: dose-response relationships. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 23, 88–93 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.56

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