Microplastics in swimming pool water

Swimming pools constitute a specific part of the human living environment, which is insufficiently researched and recognized in terms of micropollutants. There are many different threats to human health and life in swimming pool water, which, due to the methods used to assess the sources of pollution with insufficient detection levels, still need to be fully known and understood. Many micropollutants found in water are washed away from microplastics. A similar situation occurs in the case of swimming pool water, where microplastics may come from used water equipment and accessories (e.g., fins, swimming goggles, water balls, swimming "noodles," etc.), bathing suits, cosmetics used by users, etc. In addition to the fact that microplastics threaten human health and may cause many diseases, they can leach from plastics and have toxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic effects. Therefore, the possibilities of secondary microplastic formation during regular use of swimming pool water (from an aqua park and a private garden swimming pool) were determined. In the case of the garden pool, the research was carried out from August to September 2023. Samples from the water park were taken in the last quarter of 2023 from six measurement points, i.e., the braking pool, outdoor pool, sauna circuit, sports pool, wave, and slide. Microplastics were determined quantitatively (counting under a microscope) and qualitatively (FTIR analysis). Chromatographic tests were also performed to identify compounds that can be washed out from microplastic particles, which are difficult to biodegrade and may be present in the aquatic environment unchanged for a long time and pose a threat to human health. The analyses confirmed the presence of microplastics and other organic micropollutants in swimming pool water.