Concentration levels of selected pharmaceuticals in swimming pool water

This paper presents the concentration levels of three selected pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, caffeine, benzocaine) in swimming pool water. The research was conducted for four different types of pool basins (sports pool, paddling pool, jacuzzi and water slide). The extraction of micropollutants from the environmental matrix was carried out by solid-phase extraction. The extracts were analyzed using a gas chromatograph coupled to the mass detector. The most commonly identified compound was carbamazepine. Its concentrations ranged 12.27–13.82 ng/L. The least frequently identified pharmaceutical was benzocaine. The research has documented the impact of swimming pool function on the concentration levels of particular micropollutants. The highest concentrations of caffeine were observed in the water slide. Its maximum value was 16.40 ng/L there, while in other basins the highest measured concentration was 5.95 ng/L. The levels of selected pharmaceuticals at various points in the sports basin were also compared. Depending on the point of sampling in the sports basin, the measured concentrations were different. These differences result from the specificity of the swimming pools’ hydraulic system: the occurrence of both “dead zones” and zones of good water mixing.