Safety and Effectiveness of Monochloramine Treatment for Disinfecting Hospital Water Networks

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Stefania Paduano¹  Isabella Marchesi¹  Annalisa Bargellini¹  Paola Borella¹  Giuseppina Frezza¹  Pietro Zuccarello²  Margherita Ferrante²  Gea Oliveri Conti²  Luca Sircana³  Elena Vecchi³ 

[1] Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy;Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratory (LIAA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;University Hospital Policlinico of Modena, Largo del Pozzo 71, 41124 Modena, Italy;

关键词: monochloramine;    disinfection by-products;    N-nitrosamines;    hospital setting;    water networks;    Legionella;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph17176116

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The formation of potentially carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, associated with monochloramine, requires further research due to the growing interest in using this biocide for the secondary disinfection of water in public and private buildings. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possible formation of N-nitrosamines and other toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs) in hospital hot water networks treated with monochloramine. The effectiveness of this biocide in controlling Legionella spp. contamination was also verified. For this purpose, four different monochloramine-treated networks, in terms of the duration of treatment and method of biocide injection, were investigated. Untreated hot water, municipal cold water and, limited to N-nitrosamines analysis, hot water treated with chlorine dioxide were analyzed for comparison. Legionella spp. contamination was successfully controlled without any formation of N-nitrosamines. No nitrification or formation of the regulated DBPs, such as chlorites and trihalomethanes, occurred in monochloramine-treated water networks. However, a stable formulation of hypochlorite, its frequent replacement with a fresh product, and the routine monitoring of free ammonia are recommended to ensure a proper disinfection. Our study confirms that monochloramine may be proposed as an effective and safe strategy for the continuous disinfection of building plumbing systems, preventing vulnerable individuals from being exposed to legionellae and dangerous DBPs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown