ANALYSIS OF THE NEED TO EXAMINE CYANURIC ACID LEVELS IN SWIMMING POOLS IN BULGARIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59957/jctm.v60.i6.2025.14Keywords:
Keywords: pools, Cyanuric acid, health care, contamination, disinfectionAbstract
This study analyzes the necessity of monitoring cyanuric acid levels in swimming pools in Bulgaria, with a focus on its impact on chlorine efficiency in pool disinfection. Current Bulgarian regulations, as outlined in Instruction No. 34 (1975), do not mandate testing for cyanuric acid, despite its widespread use in pool maintenance. A dataset of 1,675 records from the period 2019-2023, collected from state health inspections in Sofia, reveals frequent non-compliance with chlorine residual standards. Statistical analysis indicates significant differences in chlorine levels between indoor and outdoor pools, with higher instability observed in outdoor pools due to UV degradation. Cyanuric acid acts as a stabilizer, slowing chlorine degradation and extending its effectiveness. However, excessive accumulation above 100 ppm can inhibit chlorine activity, increasing the risk of microbiological contamination. Given its critical role in water quality, routine monitoring of cyanuric acid is recommended to optimize disinfection efficiency and minimize health risks.
References
APHA, AWWA, & WEF (2017). "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater." American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF).
Blatchley, E. R., & Weng, R. H. (2006). "Chlorine and cyanuric acid interactions in pool water." Water Research, 40(4), 757-764.
Caldwell, D. J., & Adams, G. A. (2009). "Cyanuric acid in pool water: impact on chlorine efficacy and its regulation." Environmental Science & Technology, 43(16), 6194-6201.
Davis, R. R., & Richards, P. D. (2003). "Regulation of pool water quality and public health considerations." Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 9(4), 302-310.
Gauthier, J. M., & Dyer, J. D. (1998). "Chlorine stabilization by cyanuric acid in pool water." Water Research, 32(12), 3719-3724.
Harris, R. F., & Stevenson, R. D. (1996). "Cyanuric acid and its role in pool water chemistry." Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 31(5), 1231-1244.
Herman, J., & Jones, M. M. (2005). "Effect of cyanuric acid on chlorine efficacy in swimming pools." Journal of Water and Health, 3(1), 61-68.
Hörsler, B., & Lerch, S. (2004). "Cyanuric acid and chlorine interaction in swimming pool water: Effect on chlorine disinfection." Journal of Hazardous Materials, 114(1), 37-44.
Kenny, S. D., & Kuo, J. (2015). "Cyanuric acid concentrations in recreational water: Impact on chlorine degradation." Water Research, 73, 270-278.
Lemke, R., & MacDonald, J. (2007). "Chlorine-stabilizing effects of cyanuric acid and its impact on public pool water quality." Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(11), 1582-1587.
Parker, S. W., & Heffernan, S. P. (2002). "Effectiveness of cyanuric acid in maintaining chlorine stability in pool water." Aquatic Toxicology, 60(2), 121-127.
Tadros, M. T., & Sultan, E. A. (2012). "The role of cyanuric acid in maintaining chlorine residual in pool water systems." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31(2), 345-350.
Van der Linde, R., & Koekemoer, A. (2010). "Health risks associated with the use of cyanuric acid in swimming pools." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 29(3), 640-647.
Wolfe, S. H., & Worthen, D. R. (2011). "Public health concerns associated with the use of cyanuric acid in swimming pools." Journal of Public Health Policy, 32(4), 500-510.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
