S. Giampaoli, F. Valeriani, G. Gianfranceschi, M. Vitali, M. Delfini, M.R. Festa, E. Bottari, V. Romano Spica
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfìde (H2S) is a molecule dissolved in many thermal spring waters at variable concentration. The H2S effects of thermal waters treatments have long been stud ied. for dermatologica! and clinica! treatments, but its role in recreational waters was never investigated. Tue use of sulfur spring waters in pools raises concems related to disinfection by oxidants. Tue aim of this work is to evaluate the survival rate of microbial species in waters with different titers of H2S. Four selected thermal waters collected from ltalian spr ings, belonging to different chemical categories, have been tested in comparison to Tyrrhenian sea water and natural minerai bottled water. Results show inhibition properties on bacterial proliferation that seem related to H2S concentrations. To further asses this phenomenon H2S was added to thermal and natural minerai waters. The results strongly supporta bactericidal role of H2S in thermal spring waters used for recreational purposes. These observations open up new perspectives for a disinfectant role of H2S in pool treatment and management.
Keywords: Thermal spring water, Pools, Bacteria, Disinfection, Hygiene