Harnessing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in the industry to have about swimming pools, and reduce their impact on the way climate change.

Is the proposal of pioneering research at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). But that would not end the benefits of this new system due to CO2 would reduce the need for chlorine, and thus its negative consequences for the environment and health.

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CO2 pools: benefits for the environment and health

The research, published in the journal Chemosphere, demonstrates in a pioneering way the benefits to the environment and health of replacing the hydrochloric acid or CO2 salfumant to control the acidity (pH) in the pools, and in combination with the disinfectant (hypochlorite sodium).

The pools function as capture and storage of CO2 to combat climate change. This gas is a byproduct of the industry that if it is bottled for use in swimming pools not reach the atmosphere. According to one of those responsible for the article, Anton Gomà, Physical Activity Service of the UAB, the amount is small, about four tons of the gas in a year (similar to the emissions of a car), but if all pools, SPA or spas use, your contribution would be interesting.

The treated water would also be less polluting CO2. The use of hydrochloric acid changes the electrical conductivity of water. It affects living organisms when the pool water is discarded into the sewer. With the CO2 does not produce this phenomenon. By increasing water quality, the pool is not so often to replace this increasingly precious liquid and reducing its ecological footprint.

Health also is the beneficiary. The chlorine consumption declines by 25%, and thus its negative impacts, such as the formation of trihalomethanes and chloramine contaminants. These harmful substances are produced in the reaction of sodium hypochlorite with organic waste water and produce the characteristic "chlorine smell" in the pools or irritation of mucous membranes.

By removing the hydrochloric acid prevents the possibility of accidentally mixed with sodium hypochlorite. When this combination releases a large amount of toxic gas that can cause pulmonary edema and even death. Is a typical accident in pools is repeated as a trickle in more or less impact (evacuation, hospitalization, detention, etc.)..

Pools, did a health risk?

Recently there has been talk of possible negative effects of chlorine in pools. According Gomà is not determined to occur in the longer term, such as genotoxicity, cancer, impaired immune system, etc., Or at least not that make more than other normal activities. However, the expert points out the immediate effects demonstrated and experienced by many people: the bronchoconstriction. The respiratory system, especially of people routinely exposed to oxidants in the environment, detect this type of aggression and closes to protect the alveoli. The effect is a feeling of choking, shortness of breath or asthma attacks.

The official position of the World Health Organization (WHO) is that the final balance between doing sports in a pool and possible chemical or bacteriological contamination are opting for the former. However, the UAB researcher, explains that, except for indoor pools that have good maintenance record, try to avoid them, and even more the SPA with tap water.

Costs and system operation

The economic issue is one of the main drawbacks of this system: its use is costing ten times that of conventional hydrochloric acid (4,000 euros, compared to 350 per year for a pool of 1,000 m3). In total, the cost of implementing the system is about 6,000 euros per glass pools, about 5,500 euros more expensive than using salfumant. However, proponents say is a very low operating budget of a sports facility with an area of water.

The ignorance of the system, despite decades ago sold for pools, also plays against him. In any case, installation is not of too complex: you need a space to store CO2 and a gas diffusion inside the recirculating water filters. As a control system is worth the same as that which governs the dosing pump hydrochloric acid.

UAB researchers conducted experimental research over four years in two pools at the university and in another the Consell Català de l? Esport in Barcelona. The pool water was treated with CO2 and hydrochloric acid in alternating periods, and scientists examined the composition of water and air near the surface (to breathe the bathers). According Gomà, no one had noticed before the effects found in this study: the fact implement the system at a university, first for security reasons, allowed the synergies necessary to start the investigation.

Anton Gomà addition, work has taken part Guisasola Albert, Charlotte Taya, John A. Baeza, Albert Bartrolí and Javier Lafuente, Department of Chemical Engineering at UAB, and Mireia Baeza and Jordi Bartrolí, Department of Chemistry at UAB.