Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and UV filters in swimming pools and spas

Journal article (2016)

Authors

Yuli Ekowati IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Gianluigi Buttiglieri University of Girona
Giuliana Ferrero IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Damià Barceló University of Girona, IDAEA-CSIC
Mira Petrovic Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), University of Girona
Marta Villagrasa University of Girona
M.D. Kennedy Sanitary Engineering - CEG , IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Ignasi Rodríguez-Roda University of Girona
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

01-07-2016

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Water Management

Research Group

Sanitary Engineering

Abstract

The occurrence of 32 pharmaceuticals and 14 UV filters in swimming pools and spas was studied. Fifty-one water samples were collected from 17 pools located in sport centres and hotels in Catalonia, Spain. The samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The pharmaceuticals atenolol, carbamazepine, hydrochlorothiazide, metronidazole, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and phenazone were measured in water samples at concentrations higher than their limit of quantification (LOQ). The highest concentration of any individual pharmaceutical was measured for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (904 ng/L). The most frequently detected pharmaceutical was carbamazepine, as it was observed in more than half of all the water samples measured (53 %, 27/51). The UV filters at concentrations higher than LOQ in water samples were BP1, BP2, BP3, BP8, THB, 4DHB, 4MBC, OD-PABA, 1HBT, MeBT and DMeBT. The highest concentration of UV filter observed was 4MBC (69.3 ng/L) while the most frequent UV filters in the samples were 1HBT (59 %, 30/51). The results also showed that pharmaceuticals and UV filters were most frequently found in spas. Finally, from a water treatment technology perspective, the lowest occurrence of pharmaceuticals was in the pools applying sand filters followed by disinfection by sodium hypochlorite, while the lowest occurrence of UV filters was in the pools applying coagulation, sand filtration, UV and salt electrolysis.