Risk management of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and lifecycle assessment (LCA) for a model aquatic centre

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Since the early 1900's, municipalities have tried to make swimming safer by disinfecting water in swimming pools. However, researchers are increasingly linking disinfection byproducts (DBPs) to health effects ranging from asthma to cancer. It is vital to find a balance between the positive benefits of swimming, the positive benefits of disinfection of pool water and the possible negative health effects due to exposure to DBPs. While significant research has addressed the formation, occurrence, exposure, and effects of exposure to DBPs in swimming pools, very little has been done to address the potential for reducing exposure to DBPs through pool design and management strategies. In addition to potential health impacts, the international sporting community has begun to focus more closely on the environmental impact of sports and related facilities. Energy consumption, water consumption and the use (and potential release) of chemicals are a few ways that swimming pools can have an impact on the environment; however, very little research has been done to date to evaluate them. This proposal addresses human health and environmental impacts of indoor swimming pool facilities through risk assessment and life cycle assessment (LCA). Human health impacts will be addressed through modelling DBP occurrence and reduction in indoor swimming pool facilities. Human-health risk management strategies in pool design, operation and maintenance will be proposed and evaluated using an environmental exposure model validated through sampling in the pool environment. The proposed LCA will assess the life cycle environmental implications of public swimming pools. LCA technique will be applied for the new UBC Aquatic Centre facility as a case study to estimate consumption of chemicals, water, and energy through the life cycle for a typical public swimming pool. The resulting understanding of the formation and control of DBPs in indoor facilities coupled with the understanding of the environmental impacts associated with public swimming pools will improve swimming pool design and operation by industrial partners. The LCA will serve as a framework for further assessment of other swimming pool facilities.