Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters
In high-performance competitive activities, there can be intense and prolonged exposure to water during swimming components of the competition. Therefore, water quality assessments with reference to standards are desirable to ensure athletes’ health. We evaluated whether the official criteria establ...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Limnological Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/limre-2021-0016 |
| _version_ | 1797225563499266048 |
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| author | Lopes Frederico Azevedo Leite Andrea Coelho |
| author_facet | Lopes Frederico Azevedo Leite Andrea Coelho |
| author_sort | Lopes Frederico Azevedo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In high-performance competitive activities, there can be intense and prolonged exposure to water during swimming components of the competition. Therefore, water quality assessments with reference to standards are desirable to ensure athletes’ health. We evaluated whether the official criteria established for primary contact recreation in Brazilian freshwaters (CONAMA Directive 274/2000), and an integrated index of bathing conditions in Brazil (ICB), are consistent with the water quality standards stipulated by the International Triathlon Union (ITU). The water quality of Lake of Ingleses, an important venue for triathlon and open water swimming near Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, was assessed between 2003 and 2019. Results for E. coli, cyanobacteria density, and pH were favorable for contact recreation and competitions at the lake. Of the variables considered, only turbidity, used as a proxy indicator of visual water clarity, was unsuitable during part of the monitoring period. The ICB agreed with the ITU standards for Very Good and Excellent quality classes and is recommended as a tool for screening sites considered for competitions in Brazilian freshwaters. However, the Brazilian national criteria for contact recreation only present standards for E. coli and pH, which is insufficient coverage of attributes affecting primary contact suitability of water in high-performance sports activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:38:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86305f522eb543f1b0b3c715932fe712 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-7575 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:11:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Limnological Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-86305f522eb543f1b0b3c715932fe7122024-04-03T09:16:33ZengMDPI AGLimnological Review2300-75752021-12-0121416917910.2478/limre-2021-0016Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwatersLopes Frederico Azevedo0Leite Andrea Coelho1Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, BrazilFederal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, BrazilIn high-performance competitive activities, there can be intense and prolonged exposure to water during swimming components of the competition. Therefore, water quality assessments with reference to standards are desirable to ensure athletes’ health. We evaluated whether the official criteria established for primary contact recreation in Brazilian freshwaters (CONAMA Directive 274/2000), and an integrated index of bathing conditions in Brazil (ICB), are consistent with the water quality standards stipulated by the International Triathlon Union (ITU). The water quality of Lake of Ingleses, an important venue for triathlon and open water swimming near Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, was assessed between 2003 and 2019. Results for E. coli, cyanobacteria density, and pH were favorable for contact recreation and competitions at the lake. Of the variables considered, only turbidity, used as a proxy indicator of visual water clarity, was unsuitable during part of the monitoring period. The ICB agreed with the ITU standards for Very Good and Excellent quality classes and is recommended as a tool for screening sites considered for competitions in Brazilian freshwaters. However, the Brazilian national criteria for contact recreation only present standards for E. coli and pH, which is insufficient coverage of attributes affecting primary contact suitability of water in high-performance sports activities.https://doi.org/10.2478/limre-2021-0016water qualitycontact recreationtriathlonopen water swimminghealth risk |
| spellingShingle | Lopes Frederico Azevedo Leite Andrea Coelho Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters Limnological Review water quality contact recreation triathlon open water swimming health risk |
| title | Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters |
| title_full | Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters |
| title_fullStr | Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters |
| title_short | Water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in Brazilian freshwaters |
| title_sort | water quality for triathlon and open water swimming competitions in brazilian freshwaters |
| topic | water quality contact recreation triathlon open water swimming health risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/limre-2021-0016 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lopesfredericoazevedo waterqualityfortriathlonandopenwaterswimmingcompetitionsinbrazilianfreshwaters AT leiteandreacoelho waterqualityfortriathlonandopenwaterswimmingcompetitionsinbrazilianfreshwaters |