United Chemical, a manufacturer of specialty pool products, has begun a study for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding potential bromate formation from sodium bromide use in outdoor pools. United Chemical has constructed eight above-ground test pools at its facility, which will test for bromate under common use cases for sodium bromide this summer.
In 2021, the EPA made an interim decision to add the statement “Not for use in outdoor pools” to all registered bromine sanitizers, including algaecides containing sodium bromide. The agency cited a lack of data on whether bromate would form under typical outdoor pool use as the rationale behind the decision. Bromate is classified as a probable human carcinogen based on studies of bromate ingestion in mice that led to renal tumors. The required label changes will appear across the industry later this year.
“While there’s indirect evidence to suggest that bromate is unlikely to form in swimming pools, it was important to test that hypothesis — both to provide the agency and industry with data it lacked, as well as for our own peace of mind,” says Scott Hamilton, CEO of United Chemical and son of founder Jock Hamilton.
United Chemical invested over $50,000 to construct the outdoor pools and provide on-site testing equipment to log sample data. Samples under various conditions will be sent to Eurofin, which will use ion chromatography to test for bromate concentrations.
You can read more about the EPA decisions and United Chemical’s study at unitedchemical.com/pool-business/is-sodium-bromide-banned.
For more information, contact Scott Hamilton at 805-521-1011 or s.hamilton@unitedchemical.com
