| Resumo: | Disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THM) are formed when chlorine and bromine interact with natural organic materials in chlorine-treated swimming pools. Epidemiological evidence has shown a consistent association between exposure to THM and health hazards. Therefore, we aimed to assess the risk of THM long-term exposure on elite swimmers and their coaches. In an Olympic-sized indoor chlorinated swimming pool, THM levels were determined in the water (21-69µg/L), in the boundary layer above the water surface (58.97-396.88µg/m3), and in the air surrounding the pool (27.73-390.30µg/m3). These values were used to predict multi-pathway chronic daily intake (CDI), cancer risk (CR) and hazard index (HI). Oral and dermal CDI for swimmers were 1.69x10-6, 1.92x10-8, respectively. Inhalation CDI for swimmers (1.64x10-3mg/kg/day) was estimated to be 8.4-fold higher than for coaches (1.95x10-4mg/kg/day). CR for swimmers and coaches was 1.31x10-4 and 1.56x10-5 and HI was 1.59x10-1 and 1.89x10-2, respectively. According to guidelines, HI was acceptable, but CR exceed the recommended limit. Our findings provide further support to the development of comprehensive guidelines to safeguard the health of people involved in elite swimming.
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