Alveolar breath sampling and analysis to assess trihalomethane exposures during competitive swimming training.

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.97105636
• Publication Date: 2011-01-10T13:36:17Z
• Authors: A B Lindstrom; J D Pleil; D C Berkoff
• Keywords: Trihalomethane; Inhalation exposure; Blood sampling

Alveolar breath sampling was used to assess trihalomethane (THM) exposures encountered by collegiate swimmers during a typical 2-hr training period in an indoor natatorium. The samples were collected at regular intervals before, during, and for 3 hr after moderately intense workout. Integrated grab whole-air the help determine inhalation exposures, pool water dermal exposures. Resulting workout demonstrated rapid uptake of two THMs (chloroform bromodichloromethane), with chloroform concentrations exceeding natatorium air levels within 8 min exposure began. Chloroform continued rise steeply until they more than times levels, providing evidence that route relatively ultimately important this scenario. elimination fitted three compartment model allowed estimation compartmental half-lives, resulting minimum bloodborne dose, approximation duration elevated body burdens. We estimated account 80% blood concentration transdermal diffusion efficiency from excess 2%. Bromodichloromethane which provided small, but measurable, burden THM vigorous swim training. These results suggest competitive under prolonged, high-effort are common possibly higher previously thought is dominant. potential risks associated recreational activity should be thoroughly investigated.