Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2018-09-02"
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- Genetic damage in young swimmers exposed to pool disinfection by-productsPublication . Amaro, Raquel; Esteves, Filipa; Silva, Susana; Costa, Carla; Costa, Solange; Teixeira, João PauloIntroduction. Swimming is seen as an activity with innumerous wellbeing and health benefits. For the maintenance of the quality of swimming pools’ water, and consequently for the safety of its users, there is a need to add disinfection products. The interaction between these products and organic matter, naturally introduced in the water by users, leads to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), many of them with mutagenic and carcinogenic characteristics. Younger individuals constitute a susceptible group and their exposure to genotoxic compounds may lead to health problems later in life. Despite the relevance of this issue in public health, there is limited research on the subject. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic damage levels in young federated swimmers exposed to pool DBPs.
- Human Exposure to Disinfection By-Products in Indoor Swimming Pools: Looking at the Genotoxic EffectsPublication . Esteves, Filipa; Amaro, Raquel; Silva, Susana; Costa, Carla; Costa, Solange; Teixeira, João PauloDisinfection of pool water is an extremely important process that ensures the safety of its use avoiding water-borne infections caused by microbial pathogens. However, the chlorine used as disinfectant, in the presence of organic matter, may generate disinfection by-products (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs), a class that includes genotoxic compounds, which are inhaled and absorbed by the skin. Previous studies have shown that exposure to these DBPs are associated with adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess DNA damage in swimming pool users exposed to THMs. To evaluate DNA damage, blood samples were collected from a group of approximately 150 swimmers in different indoor chlorinated pools located in north of Portugal. Levels of DNA strand breaks and oxidized purines (formamidopyrimidine DNA glycolase) sites were determined in lymphocytes using the comet assay. Individual exposure to THMs compounds was analysed using a predictive model; analysis included not only total THMs but also chloroform, dibromochloromethane, bromochloromethane and bromoform separately. Data obtained will increase knowledge on the potential genotoxic risks associated to THMs exposure in indoor swimming pools. Furthermore, results may be useful to perform a human health risk assessment model essential for development of risk management strategies.