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Barikbin B, Khodadadi M, Azizi M, Aliabadi R. Study of microbial and physicochemical parameters in public swimming pools in Birjand-Iran. J Birjand Univ Med Sci. 2005; 12 (3 and 4) :9-15
URL: http://journal.bums.ac.ir/article-1-79-en.html

Background and Aim: Swimming in non-standard and unhygienic pools is one of the important health problems, which results in transmission of disease in swimmers. In case of unhygienic pools, diseases such as conjunctivitis, swimmer foot itching, skin diseases, typhoid disease, trachoma and fungal diseases may
occur. The present study was aimed to evaluate the microbial and physicochemical circumstances of five public swimming pools in Birjand.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, bacteriological and physicochemical parameters of five active public swimming pools (four outdoors and one indoor) were evaluated in summer. Five samples were collected from surface and deep parts of every pool every ten days for one month and sent under standard condition to a qualified laboratory for investigations. PH, temperature and free chlorine were examined in site, but alkalinity and turbidity as physico chemical parameters were evaluated in the laboratory. Bacteriological culture for coli forms; streptococcus and pseudomonas aeroginosa was performed. After recording the physicochemical and bacteriological in relevant forms, comparisons with the standards were undertaken and analyzed.
Results: pH in 56.6% samples was favorable. Free residual chlorine in 75% of samples was not satisfactory. Alkalinity and turbidity were satisfactory in 60% and 46.6% of samples, respectively. Temperature was favorable in microbial parameters in terms of most probable number (MPN) was at the standard level in 60%
of all samples from swimming pools. MPN was above the standard level in 25.5% of all samples. Pseudomonas aeroginosa was identified in 15.5% of the samples. No E.coli or entrococci were observed in samples.
Conclusion: Physicochemical and microbial parameters of the swimming pools in Birjand are not satisfactory and thus the environmental health department of Birjand must urge the management of swimming pools to improve the hygienic standards of the pools.