Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objectives: From health perspective, swimming pools must have appropriate physical, chemical, and microbial properties and must be desirably maintained. In this research, physicochemical parameters, microbial, and fungal contamination of swimming pools have been examined in Kerman.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2014-2015. Fifteen hundred samples were collected in four seasons. Microbial, and fungal contamination and temperature, free residual chlorine, turbidity, oxidation and revival parameters were measured. MINI TAB software was used for statistical analysis. After performing descriptive analysis of data, chi-square test, Pearson correlation and ANOVA were used to determine the relationship between the variables.

Results: Of 1500 samples, 14.13% were contaminated with fungi saprophytes, 6.87% with pathogenic fungi, 13.40% with coliform bacteria, 4.66% with fecal coliform, 2.07% with heterotrophic bacteria, and 1.20% were infected with other bacteria. A significant correlation was found between the contamination and the seasons. From the physiochemical parameters perspective, 90% of samples lacked the required temperature standards and 45% lacked the standard of free residual chlorine. Water turbidity was 90% more than the standard.

Conclusions: The prevalence of contamination in Kerman pools in 2014-2015 was far less than before. It is recommended to continuously disinfect the surrounding environment including the pools platforms. The overuse of chlorine will had a negative impact on the other parameters.

Key words: Pollution, Microbial, Fungal, Physicochemical Parameters, Swimming Pool

Funding: This research was funded by Kerman University of Medical Science.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences approved this study.

How to cite this article: Molazade P, Khanjani N, Rahimi MR, Molazadeh AR, Rahimi A. Fungal and Biological Contamination and Physicochemical Quality of Water Swimming Poolsin Kerman, 2014 -2015: A Short Report. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2016; 15(5): 491-500. [Farsi]