The Presence of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Swimming Pools

The introduction of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) into the environment can be partially attributed to discharges of human wastes, which is also relevant in swimming pool settings. Little or no information exists to address this issue in the literature. Therefore, experiments were conducted to examine the presence and behavior of PPCPs in swimming pools. Among 32 PPCPs amenable to analysis by an available method, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), caffeine, and tri(2-chloroethyl)-phosphate (TCEP) were found to be present in measurable concentrations in pool water samples. Examination of the degradation of selected PPCPs by chlorination illustrated differences in their stability in chlorinated pools. These results, as well as literature information regarding other attributes of PPCPs, indicate characteristics of these compounds that could allow, for their accumulation in pools, including slow reaction with chlorine, little potential for liquid -> gas transfer, and slow metabolism by humans (among orally ingested PPCPs). The findings of this study also suggest the potential for accumulation of topically applied PPCP compounds in pools. More generally, the results of this study point to the importance of proper hygiene habits of swimmers. The potential for the accumulation of PPCPs in pools raises questions about their fate and the risks to swimming pool patrons.