Pollution caused by the use of disinfectants in public spaces is a relatively new form of environmental contamination. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2021, early research showed a sevenfold increase in the use of disinfectants to clean outdoor spaces and a corresponding increase in environmental pollution. Typically, after entering stormwater systems, disinfectants are carried to surface waters (e.g., rivers, seas and lakes) where they react with various elements to form harmful compounds. In the absence of data, it is not possible to determine accurate levels of pollution according to the latest scientific information. Our enquiry demonstrates that stormwater pollution indicators (pH, conductivity, turbidity and color intensity) change depending on the amounts of disinfectants present. Laboratory tests were conducted using hemp fiber and ceramzite, in which filtered stormwater samples contaminated with different amounts of disinfectants showed decreases in the amounts of active chlorine from 2.93 ppm to 1.0 ppm. Changes in pH levels, conductivity, turbidity and color intensity were monitored before and after filtration; pH indicators changed slightly (from 7.81 to 7.85), turbidity changes varied in the range of 0.070–0.145 NTU and the highest value of color intensity (1.932 AV) was obtained when 50 mL of disinfectant was added to the investigated sample water. This article presents the results of our research into the impact of disinfectants on stormwater. Further investigation is needed in order to determine the impacts of chemical substances on our water ecosystem.

One consequence of intensive outdoor disinfection using chlorinated compounds is environmental pollution. It has been found that disinfectants are the most effective tool to avoid the spread of infections and viruses. Studies have shown that the use of chlorine-based disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite) leaves residual chlorine and other disinfection byproducts in the environment. They also have harmful effects on, inter alia, water quality, ecosystems, as well as exacerbating the corrosion of surfaces. To meet regulatory standards, monitoring of the presence of residual chlorine in the environment is vitally important. The aim of this study is to analyse the occurrence of residual chlorine in stormwater after outdoor disinfection using sodium hypochlorite and to investigate its interaction with different microelements as well their possible impacts. Stormwater samples collected at permanently disinfected locations were analysed via X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of Cl and the following elements Na, Si, K, Ca, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn were detected and their relationship with chlorine was determined using the Python programming language. The research presents Cl concentration values (%) that vary from 0.02 to 0.04. The results of the modelling revealed strong correlations between Cl and Fe (value 0.65) and Ca (value −0.61) and the occurrence of CaCl2 and FeCl3. The strong relationship between Cl and Fe explains the significant increase in surface corrosion after disinfection with chlorine-based substances.

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Dezinfekavimo medžiagos priklauso biocidinių produktų grupei, jos naudojamos siekiant pašalinti pavojingų mikroorganizmų (pvz., virusų) kenksmingumą. Mokslinių tyrimų rezultatai rodo, kad pastaruoju metu tarša dezinfekcinėmis medžiagomis didėja. Paviršiams dezinfekuoti naudojamos trijų kategorijų medžiagos: stiprūs oksidatoriai (chloro junginiai ir kt.), ketvirtiniai amonio junginiai ir alkoholiai (izopropilo arba etilo alkoholis). Naujausi tyrimai rodo, kad dezinfekcinės medžiagos padeda apsisaugoti nuo infekcijų, tačiau pasižymi neigiamu poveikiu aplinkai. Šios medžiagos su lietaus nuotekomis patenka į paviršinius vandens telkinius ir, reaguodamos su vandenyje esančiomis organinėmis medžiagomis, sudaro kancerogeninius ir kitus aplinkai kenksmingus junginius (trichlormetanas, dibromchlormetanas, bromodichlormetanas, dichloracetonitrilas, halogeninės acto rūgštys, chloraminai ir pan.). Atsižvelgiant į tai, yra poreikis nustatyti dezinfekavimo medžiagų poveikį aplinkai ir pateikti šių cheminių medžiagų šalinimo iš paviršinių nuotekų rekomendacijas. Šiame straipsnyje apžvelgiamas dezinfekavimo medžiagų naudojimas paviršiams valyti, jų poveikis aplinkai, pateikiami šių cheminių medžiagų pašalinimo iš paviršinių nuotekų, naudojant ekologiškas medžiagas, būdai.