Possibility of using hydrogen peroxide for disinfection of swimming pool water

Introduction. Among the means currently used for water disinfection, hydrogen peroxide is characterised by high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and safety. However, due to extremely low established MPC values (0.1 mg/L) it is not widely used.

Objective. Investigation of the chronic effects of hydrogen peroxide on the body in white rats for determination of the no-observed concentration by toxicological signs of damage.

Materials and Methods. White outbred rats were injected with hydrogen peroxide solutions for six months 5 times a week in doses of 50 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg. In animals, after 1, 3, and 6 months of exposure and after the recovery period, the functions of the nervous system, liver, and kidneys were evaluated, and the peripheral blood composition was recorded. A macroscopic pathomorphological examination of the internal organs was performed. The expression of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes related to glutathione metabolism, was determined.

Results. After 6 months, a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and hemoglobin levels was recorded in the blood serum in rats at the maximum tested dose. The study of lipid metabolism showed a decrease in the level of low-density lipoproteins and phospholipids when exposed to hydrogen peroxide at doses of 50 and 5 mg/kg. Suppression of GSTT1 gene expression was noted, and a high level of GSTM1 gene expression was observed in the group receiving a dose of 50 mg/kg of hydrogen peroxide.

Limitations. The work was carried out only on laboratory animals.

Conclusion. The most informative markers of chronic toxicity of hydrogen peroxide were the cumulative indices of lipid metabolism, as well as the degree of expression of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes of the antioxidant defense system, reflecting the severity of oxidative stress. Based on the data obtained, the dose of 5 mg/kg/day can be regarded as a threshold. The estimated maximum inactive concentration of hydrogen peroxide in water, equal to 35 mg/L, can serve as a guideline for adjusting sanitary and hygienic standards related to disinfection of pool water.

Compliance with ethical standards. The Ethics Commission of the Federal Research Institute for Disinfectology has approved a research program of сhronic effects of hydrogen peroxide on rats (Minutes of the meeting No. 7 of October 21, 2024).

Contribution:
Bidevkina M.V. – concept and design of the study, editing, approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Vinogradova A.I. – statistical processing;
Morozov A.S. – concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, writing text;
Matrosenko M.V. – statistical processing;
Pankratova G.P. – concept and design of the study;
Latipova R.I. – statistical processing;
Shaykhutdinova Z.K. – concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing text;
Karimov D.O. – conducting genetic research, processing results;
Valova Ya.V. – preparation of equipment, validation of the method for assessing the content of hydrogen peroxide, sample preparation of biomaterial;
Gizatullina A.A. – preparation for experiments;
Sinitskaya T.A. – general idea and scientific supervision;
Safandeev V.V. – editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: June 02, 2025 / Received after revision: July 02, 2025 / Accepted: September 19, 2025 / Published: October 20, 2025

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