Swimming
pools are perfect for biofilms, allowing algae to thrive in its protected
biofilm colony.
*
How does algae absorb chlorine? (see video)
*
Why does algae keep coming back like a chronic disease? (See link)
*
How can we fight algae with less chlorine and less work? (2nd video)
 |
| Dr. David Knighton |
Speaker:
David Knighton, MD
Date
& Time: Thurs, Aug 2nd, 12 noon
Location:
McCormick & Schmicks
Cost
& RSVP: $30 RSVP here
(UNLV
researchers & students free)
Chlorine
and its disinfection byproducts (DBP) are not good for you. DBP's are formed
when chlorine, bromine or any halide molecule used to kill bacteria in the
water, combines with biologic molecules that contain carbon and nitrogen. The
most prevalent molecule in the swimming environment is urea from urine and
sweat. Urea undergoes chemical changes in the pool and combines with chlorine
or bromine to form over 30 different DBP's. Some of these molecules stay in the
water and others are volatile so they diffuse into the air above the water and
eventually into the entire building. The act of swimming actually increases the
concentration of DBP's by churning up the water and increasing the
concentration of these molecules in the air.
DBP's can affects one's breathing - if you have asthma - it would be
tough to breathe in a pool with high DBPs. They can irritate your skin, eyes
and lungs; cause central nervous system changes such as dizziness and
headaches; cause fatigue; and with prolonged exposure are potential
carcinogens.
Swimming
pools are perfect for biofilms, allowing algae to thrive in its protected
biofilm colony.
*
How does algae absorb chlorine? (see video)
*
Why does algae keep coming back like a chronic disease? (See link)
*
How can we fight algae with less chlorine and less work? (2nd video)
Sphagnum
Moss changes the chemistry of the water and binds ions which keep the biofilm
from forming. If there's no biofilm to protect the algae, then chlorine can be
effective in killing the algae. Because it's easier to kill the algae, pools
require up to 70% less chlorine. (See the amazing video of St. Paul's public
pool)
Sphagnum
Moss changes the chemistry of the water and binds ions which keep the biofilm
from forming. If there's no biofilm to protect the algae, then chlorine can be
effective in killing the algae. Because it's easier to kill the algae, pools
require up to 70% less chlorine. (See the amazing video of St. Paul's public
pool)
David
Knighton, M.D., read an article about World War I soldiers whose wounds were
treated with sphagnum moss.
The
moss helped prevent infection by stopping bacteria growth. He also noticed that
many of the lakes of northern Minnesota, which contained the same kind of moss
were cleaner & contained less algae than those farther south. He decided to
start a company based on using Sphagnum Moss to clean pools & spas.
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